UFC women’s bantamweight star Kayla Harrison is quickly making her mark as the most physically dominant fighter across all women’s divisions. Standing at 5’8″ and weighing around 155 pounds, the former judoka has already made history. Wanna know how? She is the first and the only American to win two Olympic gold medals in judo. Yet, ever since her UFC debut in January 2024 after a decade-long run in the PFL, it’s her incredible physique that’s sparked endless conversation.
Since stepping into the Octagon, Kayla Harrison has faced accusations from fans and pundits about being on the ‘secret juice’. However, she’s passed every drug test thrown her way, silencing critics and leaving them scratching their heads. In her first two UFC fights, the Ohio native didn’t just win—she dominated seasoned veterans like Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira. Now, she’s just one victory away from reaching the top. At UFC 316, Harrison will return to action, set to challenge current women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña in the co-main event on June 7.
The buzz around UFC 316 even made its way to The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, episode #2309, where Joe Rogan and actor-turned-author Joey Diaz broke down the card. While discussing the co-main event, Rogan said, “Merab Dvalishvili, the rematch, which would be absolute f—–g chaos. Juliana Peña versus Kayla Harrison, who’s the most jacked female that’s not on steroids walking the face of the earth. Kayla Harrison is f—–g… I mean, she passes all her tests, but good lord, that lady’s jacked.”
October 5, 2024, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: KETLEN VIEIRA and KAYLA HARRISON fight in a 3-round WomenÃââ s Bantamweight bout at UFC 307 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City USA – ZUMAs346 20241005_zsp_s346_127 Copyright: xAlejandroxSalazarx
While Kayla Harrison has cleared every drug test and quieted most of the doubters, her next opponent, Julianna Peña, remains skeptical. Speaking about the Ohio native’s incredible physique, Peña said, “Stay off the needle, bro. Maybe not now, but definitely in the past. Absolutely. There’s no question. I already have the mindset that people are cheating, especially at ATT, 100 percent at ATT. When Dan Lambert flew me out there after I won TUF, they literally told me that all the girls were in the bathroom shooting each other in the a– with steroids.”
Not one to stay silent, Kayla Harrison fired back in true fighter spirit. Instead of getting caught up in Peña’s accusations, the former PFL champion opened up about her battles with social anxiety. Here’s how the former PFL champion chose to respond.
Kayla Harrison responds to Julianna Peña’s cheating allegations
Kayla Harrison has been subject to regular drug testing since she was just 13 years old, a period that coincides with when she joined Ronda Rousey’s judo fight camp, setting the foundation for her Olympic ambitions. Under Rousey’s mentorship, the Ohio native’s career flourished. However, no one has questioned Harrison’s integrity quite like Julianna Peña has. Despite Peña’s accusations, the ex-PFL star remains focused on her upcoming UFC 316 fight, where their rivalry continues to heat up. Peña has alleged that Harrison uses performance-enhancing drugs, offering some questionable evidence, but nothing has been substantiated.
During a recent appearance on ‘The MMA Hour’,Harrison addressed the allegations head-on: “It pisses me off,” she said. “Number one, it pisses me off because I’ve never once tested positive for anything, ever, throughout my long drug-testing career. And number two, don’t f—–g say things like that if you don’t have hard evidence. That’s a serious accusation to make, and I take cheating very seriously. I have always competed clean, I carry myself to a high standard, and I know that I haven’t always competed against people who were clean, but I’m not going to throw accusations out just because I feel like I think they’re not clean.”
So, what’s your take on Kayla Harrison’s physique? Is her impressive build truly the result of hard work, or is there something more going on? Drop your thoughts below.
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