UFC bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison is embracing Julianna Peña’s trash talk, saying it actually helps her win over fans.
The two fighters are set to face off for the bantamweight title at UFC 316, a moment that will mark a major milestone for Harrison, who has been eyeing the belt for some time. In the lead-up to the match, Harrison and Peña have traded words and Peña is determined to prove she’s the best, while Harrison is focused on claiming the belt.
Peña originally had her sights set on Amanda Nunes, but following Nunes’ retirement, she turned her attention to Harrison—an ideal opponent. During an appearance on MMA Junkie with Mike Bohn, Harrison shared her thoughts on Peña’s recent comments and how they might actually work to her advantage.
“I’m still trying to figure out what happened,” Harrison told MMA Junkie. “It was a lot. I thought we were going to talk a little sh*t, have some fun with it. But she came out swinging, and I was like, ‘OK…’ It kind of works in my favor, though, because she talks so much that everybody just hates her. So I win a lot of fans just by being like, ‘All right, whatever, honey.’
“She was talking about Cris Cyborg, running, grandmas, being skinny, being bloody, walking tacos… I was like, ‘What is happening right now?’ We’ll see.”
Harrison admitted she doesn’t come to press conferences with prepared material, preferring to stay authentic.
“I definitely don’t prepare material,” she said. “If I have a zinger, you know it’s a real one, and you can respect that about me. I’m pretty funny, sometimes. I didn’t have any zingers this time. At first, I thought, ‘Did I just lose the press conference?’ But at the end of the day, I understand this is entertainment, it’s part of the job. Still, I do it because I want to get in the cage and shut the door. That’s the part I love most. I had fun, and I can’t wait for June 7.”
