In a media day before UFC 316, Kayla Harrison discussed the significance of potentially winning the UFC bantamweight title against Julianna Pena. She described the win as a reflection of her resilience and career accomplishments, expressing satisfaction with her journey in MMA. Harrison analyzed the rivalry with Pena, pointing out that feelings of animosity stem from business rather than personal views. Fans have increasingly supported Harrison, seeing her as an emerging heroine against the backdrop of Pena's villainous persona. She believes her skills across various aspects of fighting give her an edge in the upcoming bout.
"It's a testament I think to my character, my grit, my determination," answered Harrison (18-1), seen by many as the future face of the women's bantamweight division. "I'm very happy with my career, I've climbed a lot of mountains, I've done more than most will ever do, and I'm very satisfied with it. But this belt is for me."
"I think that that's part of the business, and Julianna doesn't excel at fighting, so she has to excel at the other piece of it," Harrison observed on that front. "And it's not personal to me. She's just doing her job."
"I just believe I'm better everywhere. I think that I'm bigger, faster, stronger, I think that I've got more positive experience. I think that my grappling's better, my striking's better, I think my fight IQ is high."
"Fans have gotten behind Harrison ahead of this title fight, coming around to the former PFL star in a way they did not, initially, when she arrived in the UFC. As to why that might be, it's perhaps that 'Julianna is the perfect villain to make me the hero in people's eyes,' suggested Harrison."
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