There's a good chance the UFC matchmakers will walk away from tonight's UFC 307 fight card knowing who will next compete for the UFC women's bantamweight title.
The night's co-main event between champion Raquel Pennington and former titleholder Jessica Pena will determine who will hold the women's bantamweight belt. Meanwhile, earlier on the pay-per-view card, Ketlen Vieira and Kayla Harrison will compete for the chance to fight for that title. Viera, who joined the UFC in October 2016, is the No. 2 ranked fighter in the 135-pound division. Harrison, who made her UFC debut in April of this year, is the No. 3 fighter in the official UFC rankings.
Harrison has a history of winning. Before her journey into MMA, she won two Olympic gold medals in judo, competing in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic games. When she jumped to MMA in 2018, it didn't take Harrison long to claim a title, winning the PFL women's lightweight tournament and $1 million with a decision victory over Larissa Pacheco in her seventh pro fight.
Harrison moved to 12-0 two years later with a win in the 2021 PFL women's lightweight tournament.
Harrison's perfect run in MMA ended in the final of the 2022 PFL women's lightweight tournament when Pacheco defeated her via decision.
Today, Harrison is 17-1. Her UFC debut was a second-round submission victory over former UFC women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm. Harrison is massive favorite to defeat Vieira on the UFC 307 pay-per-view card.
With her background and dominance in her previous fights, Harrison has 13 finishes as an MMA competitor. She's also unafraid to show a brash side on the mic, something she displayed when asked who she would like to face in the future.
"Fill in the blank," Harrison said at the UFC 307 press conference. "It doesn't matter. It's only a matter of time. I'm the uncrowned queen. First, Saturday night, I smash Ketlen, and then I come for my title. Enjoy it while you can, ladies."
In short, Harrison is a marketable commodity. As good as Harrison has looked, there are some areas of concern regarding how long she will keep fighting. Not only is Harrison 34, but she has never made the championship bantamweight limit of 135 pounds, and the two times she hit 136 pounds, Harrison looked depleted, which is not a surprise since she began her MMA career competing at 155 pounds.
Harrison may have the potential to be a dominant champion along the lines of Ronda Rousey (six title defenses) or Amanda Nunes (five title defenses in her first title reign and one in her second stint as champion). The UFC brass is likely hoping to get the opportunity to find out what type of champ Harrison can become.
UFC 307 takes place on Saturday, October 5, at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, UT. The main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.