Kayla Harrison 'pleasantly surprised' by first featherweight cut, weighs future in division
Kayla Harrison’s first trip down to featherweight wasn’t so bad, after all.
The 2019 PFL women’s lightweight champion had a positive experience in her 145-pound debut. Harrison (8-0 MMA) stopped Courtney King with ground-and-pound in the second round of the main event of Invicta FC 43 this past weekend. The fight card went down in Kansas City, Kan.
It was a flawless performance that stemmed from shedding an additional 10 pounds from her normal competition weight. It’s never easy to cut weight, but Harrison made the limit healthy, and said she felt game come fight night.
“I was surprised about how good I felt actually,” Harrison told MMA Junkie. “I felt the same way I do about 155, so it was a pleasant surprise. I think I’m probably going to be a lot stronger than most women at 145 and a lot bigger.
“Typically, at 155, I fought girls much bigger than me just because I don’t cut that much weight and I walk around about 160-165. So it was different for sure, but I was glad I made the weight. I haven’t weighed that since I was 16 years old, so that was a big hurdle for me, but I was pretty professional about it. I stayed disciplined and I got to the fight at about 153, I dieted down to that, and then didn’t have to cut too much water.
“It was not a good experience, not a pleasant experience, but it’s good to know that I could do it. It’s good to know that I could do it under terrible COVID (protocol) conditions where I’m literally quarantined to my room and can’t leave it.”
Harrison is regarded as one of the best talents and athletes in women’s MMA. She’s a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, and yet to be beaten in MMA.
It was a lifestyle change for Harrison to get down at 146 pounds, she said. Harrison, who’s signed with PFL but is fighting outside of the organization as she waits or the 2020 PFL season, had to be more calculated this time out.
“Normally, when I fight at 155, when I get close to the fight I eat clean but I eat as much as I want,” Harrison explained. “I eat until I’m full, like there’s no portion control or anything. But for 145, I definitely had to, you know, four ounces of meat, a certain amount of carbs.
“I just had to be more disciplined in my regimen and what times I ate, and what I was eating, and all that stuff. I was much more strict and much more miserable than I normally am. I had to miss all that Halloween candy, so thats sucked.”
For now, Harrison is contracted to fight one more season with PFL. The 30-year-old will compete in its lightweight season, which begins in April, but she’s not ruling out a drop back down in the future.
“Well, I’ll fight for PFL next year at 155 and then see what happens,” Harrison said. “I don’t believe in cutting weight. I don’t think it’s good for your body. I don’t think it sends a good message to kids, and I truly believe if you’re going to win, you’re going to win at whatever weight you fight.
“But having said that, I am in the business of Kayla Harrison, and there’s probably going to be more opportunities for me at 145 than 155. So, we’ll see what happens.”
