Kayla Harrison faced significant challenges to make the championship weight for UFC 316.
The newly crowned UFC women`s bantamweight champion, Kayla Harrison, caused concern among fans and experts alike due to her visibly difficult weigh-in before UFC 316. Although she won the championship belt in Newark, her body endured an internal struggle before her fight against Julianna Peña.
Harrison concluded an impressive run in the UFC by winning the championship, submitting Peña late in the second round of UFC 316. In a highly anticipated fight, Harrison dominated the defending champion, highlighting her strong performance in the Octagon.
While achieving a major career goal at UFC 316, Harrison`s body paid a significant toll in the hours leading up to the event.
Kayla Harrison Details Her Rigorous 15-Week Camp to Make 135 lbs
At Friday`s official weigh-in, Harrison appeared visibly drained, leading to fan concern, although she successfully made the 135 lbs weight limit. She had only previously made this weight twice in her career, both times for UFC fights.
Harrison hinted at the extremely difficult process she followed for weeks to make weight. The champion suggested few people could have endured what she did.
In a recent interview with Full Send MMA, Harrison described her rigorous 15-week routine to prepare for the 135 lbs limit before UFC 316.
Harrison revealed the intensity of her training, stating that for 12 weeks, she exercised six miles daily (running, walking, swimming, or biking), increasing to eight miles on Sundays. Additionally, for 12-15 weeks, she followed a strict diet, eating only meals prepared by her chef and nutritionist, occasionally allowing herself one scoop of peanut butter when feeling severely deprived.
She added that enduring such hardship had made her spirit unbreakable and her faith unshakeable, something she is proud of and believes the championship belt symbolizes.
To have a successful and lengthy title reign, Harrison will need to consistently make the 135 lbs weight class moving forward. A potential major fight against Amanda Nunes is anticipated no sooner than the first quarter of 2026, as Nunes must re-enter the UFC`s drug testing program.
Former Employer PFL Congratulates Kayla Harrison on UFC 316 Title Victory
While Harrison celebrates her significant achievement, her former mixed martial arts promotion, PFL, commented on her performance at UFC 316. Despite a difficult separation from PFL in 2024 and strained relations with co-founder Donn Davis, the tone became more positive during UFC 316 fight week.
In a statement, Davis mentioned his previous efforts over four years to advocate for Harrison receiving pound-for-pound recognition in MMA. Her victory at UFC 316 is expected to significantly improve her standing in the UFC`s pound-for-pound rankings.
As Harrison potentially prepares for a major fight against Nunes, she is increasingly seen as a leading figure in women`s MMA and aims to further climb the ranks in UFC history.
