If there is anyone who can rival Amanda Nunes for her title of ‘GOAT’ in women’s MMA, then it is none other than Kayla Harrison. The former two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champion will re-enter the octagon at UFC 307 to face upcoming Bantamweight contender Ketlen Vieira. The Florida native has documented her journey to drop down to the division, as she had naturally competed at Featherweight and even Lightweight in the past. The relentless pursuit to cut down massive amounts of weight can have long-term implications, but ‘Doug’ has adopted the task quite well. But how? That is the looming question.

The same query perplexed Kamaru Usman and he sat down with Harrison on his podcast, ‘Pound 4 Pound’, to talk about the same. The Nigerian Nightmare could not help but ask as soon as they got to the matter. 

Kayla Harrison spills her secret method of weight-cutting before a fight

Harrison’s journey from the judo mat to the Octagon has been nothing short of scintillating. ‘Doug’ showcased her incredible grappling skills when she finally made her promotional debut at UFC 300 and that too against a legend in Holly Holm. The history of anomalies associated with difficult weight cuts has been prominent, with superstars like Daniel Cormier, Max Holloway and Cris Cyborg barely making the scale. The MMA fandom expected something in the same neighborhood when Harrison finally declared ‘Bantamweight’ as her proving ground. Interestingly, everything seemed to be in balance when she was fresh and ready for the weigh-ins. 

As UFC 307 lingers closer, Harrison will once again have to undertake the same regiment to make it to the fight. This particular case made the former welterweight king curious about how ‘Doug’ managed to do it with ease. Following the same sentiment, he asked the Olympian about her secret to which she casually credited her slow and steady state cardio as her primary ingredient. She added, “So, like I’m not naturally 135 pounds. I walk around 160 or 165lbs and I have 136 pounds of lean mass on my body. So to get my weight down to within striking range of 135lbs, I have to implement slow and steady state cardio so it’s not that hard. My heart rate goes to about 130 but I just have to walk for 2 hours, bike for 2 hours, or swim for 2 hours.”

When Usman asked whether it was hard to go on a stationary bike for two hours at a stretch, the 34-year-old mentioned that it was actually ‘boring’. All of this was stated in a way that only a champion knows. However, even though she stated this process to be boring and not as hard as it looks, she had previously mentioned that she does not like cutting weight.

‘Doug’ reveals her dislike towards the process of weight-cutting

During an interview with Kevin Iole, Harrison once again clarified misconceptions about her natural weight. She stated, “The whole time I was [in the PFL], I walked around at 165, maybe 160 and so not only was I usually the smaller fighter with less experience, I was getting in the cage with girls who were getting in there at 180, 175 pounds.” 

The 34-year-old dispelled rumors of a much heavier frame and revealed her dislike for the concept of weight-cutting. Her decision to avoid excessive weight-cutting stems from a desire to set a positive precedence for younger fighters who are just entering the sport. While she understands the sacrifices necessary to achieve their goals and the common practice of using larger frames as a way to dominate other opponents, Harrison believes in a much healthier approach to the sport.

Harrison is someone who has competed in the sport for a long time. As she looks forward to her next challenge at UFC 307, she will once again look to reiterate the importance of raw skill rather than the need to cut excessive weight for an advantage in the fight. How do you think she will fare against an icon like Holly Holm? Do you believe she can excel yet again and bag another win? Drop your comments in the box below!