Kayla Harrison has turned up the heat on Ronda Rousey ahead of Rousey’s high-profile return against Gina Carano on May 16 at UFC Vegas 116.
Rousey is scheduled to face Carano in a fight that will air on Netflix, which has over 325 million subscribers. The matchup marks Rousey’s comeback and pits her against Carano, who is described as a legend and pioneer who has not fought in 17 years and is in her 40s.
Harrison and Rousey were once friends and teammates in judo, but their relationship has soured. After Rousey responded to Harrison’s previous comments by insulting her and promoting the size and scale of the Carano fight, Harrison fired back. “I’m just going to go ahead and say I could be meaner,” Harrison said, later adding, “Imagine hating me and I’m just over here in my backyard feeding chickens. It’s got to be rough.”
Harrison acknowledged Rousey’s legacy while questioning the billing around the Carano bout. “She was training for the Olympics. She’s an Olympic bronze medalist. She became a UFC champion. She was really trying to chase greatness. I will never take away the fact that Ronda is probably the most important female fighter. If it weren’t for her, for sure I wouldn’t be where I’m at. I wouldn’t have a job. But this fight is not the greatest fight of all time,” Harrison said. “It’s between someone who hasn’t fought in 10 years and is coming off two knockout losses and another woman, again another legend, another pioneer, but hasn’t fought in 17 years and is in her 40s. Don’t call it the greatest fight of all time. I’m chasing greatness. You’re chasing money. We’re different.”
Harrison is currently recovering from neck surgery after her fight with Amanda Nunes was delayed from its original UFC 324 date in January. She is expected to return to action before 2026 is over.
