Harrison challenges Pena for the undisputed women’s 135-pound title in the co-main event of UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday night, and has found herself on the end of some verbal warfare, courtesy of the defending champion.
It’s not a tactic that has overly affected Harrison in the lead-up to their title fight this weekend. But when asked about it, the two-time Olympic judo gold medallist said that she wasn’t impressed with what she’s heard from her opponent.
“I think hands down this is the most trash talk (I’ve had to deal with),” Harrison told reporters during her media day session this week.
“The talk itself is trashy. I don’t know if it’s good trash talk, but it’s trashy. This is the most I’ve ever had to endure. Yeah, it’s the worst trash talk I’ve had to endure, it’s just poorly done.”
For Harrison, her issue with Pena’s trash talk is less about the fact she’s using it, but more the lack of quality to Pena’s work.
“I’ll tell you what. Being a female in a male-dominated sport, going to American Top Team, you don’t think I hear s**t all day every day?” she asked.
“I walk in the gym, and they’re starting to (talk trash). But this was just poorly done. I’m ready to fight. I’m done talking about it.”
Harrison may be the challenger taking on a two-time champion, but she heads into the bout as a significant favourite with the bookmakers. And while she acknowledges the noise that’s being generated around her title fight this weekend, she said she’s not going to stoop to a lower level and start getting overly personal with Pena ahead of their title fight. Her singular focus is winning, and walking away from Prudential Center with the women’s bantamweight title.
“I feel nothing. I focus on myself,” Harrison said.
“I focus on how I carry myself, what I can do. I try not to throw stones from a glass house. Nobody is perfect, we’re all doing the best we can, but there’s going to be a new face of women’s MMA very soon.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ78xNAzHYo
