Ronda Rousey is gone, and Amanda Nunes is retired, however Matt Brown believes the UFC girls’s bantamweight division is in good arms after Kayla Harrison arrived.
The 2-time Olympic gold medalist in judo and multi-time PFL champion got here storming into the UFC with a surprising debut after she took out Holly Holm inside two rounds. Now, she occupies a spot on the UFC 307 important card with champion Raquel Pennington defending her title towards Julianna Pena within the co-main occasion, however Brown warns them to not get too snug holding onto the belt with Harrison round.
“I really feel dangerous for the women in that division,” Brown mentioned on the most recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Author. “If I’m the champion, I’m retiring. If I’m Raquel Pennington or I’m Julianna Pena and I win the combat, I’m out. I’m pulling an Eddie Bravo right here. Win the large one and I’m completed.”
Brown admits he was all the time excessive on Harrison’s potential however nonetheless questioned if she can be the identical fighter competing at bantamweight after spending nearly her total MMA profession at 155 kilos.
Harrison made main way of life adjustments to get all the way down to 135 kilos, however the just lately retired UFC welterweight obtained his actual reply after watching her carry out at UFC 300.
“I wasn’t fairly as huge of a believer till the best way I watched her beat Holly Holm,” Brown defined. “As a result of I simply didn’t know concerning the weight lower, and the way she was going to carry out [after] the load lower, and typically folks change once they come to the UFC. They’re simply not what we thought they had been once they had been in a unique group.
“I believe she answered each query very clearly. She’s going to come back in, and I don’t assume anyone has an opportunity towards her.”
Harrison’s arrival got here lower than a 12 months after her former teammate Amanda Nunes introduced her retirement from the game, which left a noticeable void within the UFC girls’s bantamweight division.
The emergence of Rousey as a bonafide celebrity put the 135-pound weight class on the map after which Nunes adopted by placing collectively a resume that nearly universally earned her the title as the best of all-time earlier than she retired in 2023.
A brand new champion wasn’t topped till seven months later when Pennington defeated Mayra Bueno Silva however Brown expects that it’s solely a matter of time till Harrison ascends to the throne.
In actual fact, Brown is so adamant about Harrison’s capacity to dominate anyone at 135 kilos that he truly cautions Nunes towards a potential return from retirement.
“We’re on the best way to the Kayla Harrison period,” Brown mentioned. “I believe she wrecks everyone in that division together with Amanda if she comes again. I don’t assume anyone stands an opportunity towards Kayla. I believe she is a significant drawback for everyone in there.”
On the promotional facet of issues, Harrison has additionally confirmed herself as a drive on the microphone the place she’s not afraid to commerce verbal jabs together with her opponents.
Combining her abilities contained in the cage together with her capacity to promote a combat makes Harrison a uncommon mixture relating to her general values to the UFC. In some ways, Brown sees Harrison as a extra full package deal than Rousey when she was on the top of her fame as a result of he doesn’t anticipate the second to get the higher of his fellow Ohio native. :
“Pretty much as good of a talker as she is, she’s a real competitor and is respectful in the best way she talks,” Brown mentioned. “She’s a bit extra conscious of herself and the best way she’s talking. Slightly extra self-aware. No hate to Ronda … perhaps a bit of bit … however all due respect to Ronda Rousey however she simply mentioned some off the wall, insane issues.
“I don’t see Kayla Harrison going on the market and being like ‘I’ll beat Cain Velasquez on the proper day’ or some shit. She is aware of who she is. She is aware of what it’s, and he or she is an absolute terror for this division.”
The one obstacles that Brown recognized as potential deterrents for Harrison might come all the way down to her capacity to remain wholesome at bantamweight and avoiding a fortunate punch from one among her opponents.
If neither of these issues occur, Brown expects Harrison to carry onto the UFC title for so long as she’s nonetheless competing.
“The one query from right here on out is how lengthy can she maintain doing that weight lower?” Brown mentioned. “I don’t assume it’s pure for her physique. I believe she goes to be depleting herself. I believe it’ll take a toll on her. So how lengthy is she going to have the ability to preserve that? If she’s capable of preserve it for 10 years, I believe she’s champion for 10 years. She’s a supreme athlete.
“It’s MMA. Folks discover methods to do issues, spectacular issues occur on a regular basis. However like that’s the one likelihood I give towards Kayla is the truth that it’s MMA. That’s your actual likelihood. It’s MMA and loopy issues occur. There’s your likelihood.”
