Kayla Harrison has reportedly turned down a fight with No. 2 ranked bantamweight contender Ketlen Vieira.
That is according to Vieira, who dropped the news during a recent interview with Drake Riggs of MMA Mania.
“She might be the shiny new toy, but just like any toy, she needs to be played with and tested,” Vieira said through a translator. “Even [Julianna] Pena hasn’t fought for two years. [Harrison] isn’t deserving of the title. I was offered a fight [with Harrison] on June 29. I said yes and they still didn’t give it to me. I’m not happy with that at all.”
Harrison is fresh off a big win in her promotional debut, dispatching former 135-pound champion Holly Holm at UFC 300 on April 13. With the win, Harrison moved to 17-1 in her mixed martial arts career and catapulted herself into the No. 4 spot in the bantamweight rankings.
Harrison previously told Ariel Helwani that she would be open to competing during this year’s International Fight Week at the end of June, but only if the fight came with a shot at UFC gold.
“They offered me the fight, but it seems like Kayla is just not taking the fight,” Vieira added. “The UFC offered the fight because they wanted the fight, but it’s just Kayla not taking it. She’s gonna say no to this fight to try to take an easier fight. There are no easy fights. They’re all very good athletes and Kayla just has to stop running and take the fight. Sign the contract.”
"It seems that Kayla is just not taking the fight.
"She has to stop running and take the fight and sign the contract."
Ketlen Vieira claims Kayla Harrison has turned her down for a fight at #UFC303… 👀
(via @DrakeRiggs_)Full: https://t.co/Ad7ITMCYXM pic.twitter.com/8yW50FtoHJ
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) April 26, 2024
Ketlen Vieira Believes Holly Holm Walked into UFC 300 with the Wrong Strategy Against Kayla Harrison
Asked for her thoughts on Kayla Harrison’s second-round submission victory over ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ earlier this month, Vieira admitted to being impressed by the two-time PFL champion’s efforts, but believes things would have been much different had Holly Holm gone into the fight with the right strategy.
“Kayla performed well, but Holly had the wrong strategy coming into this fight,” Vieira said. “I expected Holly to go into the fight with the same strategy she had against Ronda Rousey and it seems like she just had the wrong plan. I think she could have beaten Harrison with the right strategy.”
Ketlen Vieira is 8-3 in her Octagon career, winning three of her last four fights, including notable victories over former champions Holly Holm and Miesha Tate. Her most recent W came courtesy of a dominant decision victory over Pannie Kianzad last July.
Her only loss since 2021 has come against the UFC’s reigning bantamweight women’s champion, Raquel Pennington.
Watch the full interview below:
