Matt Brown believes the UFC women’s bantamweight division is in good hands with Kayla Harrison, predicting her dominance despite potential challenges with weight cuts and unforeseen MMA events.
Ronda Rousey is gone, and Amanda Nunes is retired. But Matt Brown believes the UFC women’s bantamweight division is in good hands after Kayla Harrison arrived.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo and multi-time PFL champion made a stunning debut in the UFC. She took out Holly Holm inside two rounds.
Now, she occupies a spot on the UFC 307 main card. Champion Raquel Pennington defends her title against Julianna Pena in the co-main event.
But Brown warns them not to get too comfortable holding onto the belt with Harrison around.
“I feel bad for the girls in that division,” Brown said on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer. “If I’m the champion, I’m retiring. If I’m Raquel Pennington or I’m Julianna Pena and I win the fight, I’m out. I’m pulling an Eddie Bravo here. Win the big one and I’m done.”
Brown admits he was always high on Harrison’s potential but had questions. Would she be the same fighter at bantamweight after competing at 155 pounds?
Harrison made major lifestyle changes to get down to 135 pounds. The recently retired UFC welterweight got his answer after watching her perform at UFC 300.
“I wasn’t quite as big of a believer until I watched her beat Holly Holm,” Brown explained. “I just didn’t know about the weight cut and how she’d perform after it.”
“Sometimes people change when they come to the UFC. They’re just not what we thought they were when they were in a different organization.”
“I think she answered every question very clearly. She’s going to come in, and I don’t think anybody has a chance against her.”
Harrison’s arrival came less than a year after Amanda Nunes announced her retirement. It left a noticeable void in the UFC women’s bantamweight division.
Rousey put the 135-pound weight class on the map, becoming a bonafide superstar. Nunes followed, building a resume that almost universally earned her the title as the greatest of all time before retiring in 2023.
A new champion wasn’t crowned until seven months later when Pennington defeated Mayra Bueno Silva. But Brown expects it’s only a matter of time until Harrison ascends to the throne.
In fact, Brown is so adamant about Harrison’s ability to dominate at 135 pounds that he cautions Nunes against a possible return from retirement.
“We’re on the way to the Kayla Harrison era,” Brown said. “I think she wrecks everybody in that division including Amanda if she comes back.”
“I don’t think anybody stands a chance against Kayla. She is a major problem for everybody in there.”
On the promotional side, Harrison has proven herself as a force on the microphone too. She’s not afraid to trade verbal jabs with her opponents.
Combining her skills inside the cage with her ability to sell a fight makes Harrison rare. In many ways, Brown sees her as more complete than Rousey at her peak because he doesn’t expect Harrison to crumble under pressure.
“As good of a talker as she is, she’s respectful,” Brown said. “She’s more self-aware.”
“No hate to Ronda … maybe a little bit … but Ronda said some off-the-wall things.”
“I don’t see Kayla saying ‘I’ll beat Cain Velasquez on the right day’ or something like that. She knows who she is.”
“She knows what it is, and she is an absolute terror for this division.”
The only obstacles Brown sees for Harrison could be staying healthy at bantamweight and avoiding a lucky punch from an opponent.
If neither happens, Brown expects Harrison to hold onto the UFC title for as long as she competes.
“The only question from here on out is how long can she keep doing that weight cut?” Brown said. “It’s not natural for her body.”
“It will take a toll on her. So how long can she maintain it? If she can for ten years, then she’s champion for ten years.”