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5 Shocking Revelations About Kayla Harrison's Grueling UFC 316 Weight Cut

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Kayla Harrison’s triumphant victory over Julianna Peña at UFC 316 on Saturday, June 7, 2025, to capture the Women’s Bantamweight Championship cemented her legacy as one of the most dominant combat sports athletes in history. While the submission win was a masterclass of grappling and pressure, the true fight—the one that brought the Olympic gold medalist to her knees—happened days before on the scale. Harrison’s move from the 155-pound and 145-pound divisions of the PFL down to the UFC’s 135-pound bantamweight limit is a monumental physical undertaking, and her candid post-fight comments reveal just how excruciating the process for UFC 316 truly was.

The successful weight cut for the title fight—her second straight at 135 lbs following her debut at UFC 300—was not just challenging; it was a near-breaking point. Harrison has since opened up, detailing the intense mental and physical sacrifice required to shed nearly 20% of her body mass. Her revelations provide a rare, raw look into the hidden struggle of elite-level weight management, sparking major conversations about the long-term viability of her reign in the division.

Kayla Harrison: Biography, Judo Legacy, and Professional MMA Record

Kayla Jean Harrison is one of the most decorated female athletes to ever transition into Mixed Martial Arts. Her career is defined by a relentless pursuit of dominance, first on the judo mat and now in the MMA cage.

  • Full Name: Kayla Jean Harrison
  • Born: July 2, 1990 (Middletown, Ohio)
  • Age: 35 (As of UFC 316)
  • Height: 5’8” (172.72 cm)
  • Weight Class: UFC Women's Bantamweight (135 lbs)
  • Stance: Southpaw
  • Team: American Top Team (ATT)

Judo Career Highlights

  • Double Olympic Gold Medalist: Won Gold at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics in the Women's 78 kg division.
  • Historic Achievement: She is the first American to ever win an Olympic gold medal in the sport of Judo.
  • World Champion: Gold medal winner at the 2010 World Judo Championships.

Professional MMA Record (19-1-0)

  • Pro Debut: June 21, 2018
  • PFL Career: Dominated the PFL Lightweight (155 lbs) and Featherweight (145 lbs) divisions, winning two PFL Lightweight Championships (2019, 2021).
  • UFC Debut: UFC 300 (April 2024) against former champion Holly Holm, winning via submission.
  • UFC Title Fight: UFC 316 (June 2025) against Julianna Peña, winning the Women's Bantamweight Championship via submission.

The Grueling Sacrifice: Harrison’s Candid UFC 316 Weight Cut

The move from the PFL’s 155-pound division—where Harrison was a two-time champion—to the UFC’s 135-pound bantamweight limit is a staggering drop of 20 pounds. This is a journey that many analysts and fans questioned, but Harrison was determined to make the sacrifice to face the elite competition in the UFC.

Following her championship victory at UFC 316, Harrison was uncharacteristically open about the severity of the weight cut, admitting the process was far more difficult than her debut cut for UFC 300. The struggle was not just physical, but a profound mental battle that tested her decades of Olympic discipline.

"I Wanted To Quit"

In a post-fight interview, Harrison delivered the most shocking revelation: she nearly gave up during the final stages of dehydration. "I wanted to quit," she stated, describing the moment she felt her body shutting down. This raw admission from a double Olympic champion—an athlete known for her mental fortitude—underscored the life-altering difficulty of dropping to the bantamweight limit.

The process of cutting weight involves extreme dehydration to shed water mass, which can lead to severe physical distress, including organ strain and mental fog. For Harrison, who walks around significantly heavier than 135 pounds, this cut is a massive undertaking that pushes the boundaries of safe weight management in combat sports.

The Physical and Mental Toll

The challenge is compounded by the fact that Harrison’s natural frame is built for the 145-pound or 155-pound divisions. Her muscular, powerful build—honed over years of elite Judo training—holds more weight than a typical bantamweight. To hit the 135-pound mark, she must strip away not just fat, but significant water weight, impacting her recovery and performance.

The mental sacrifice, however, is what truly sets this cut apart. Harrison has described the necessary lifestyle changes as a constant, grueling commitment. It requires meticulous diet tracking, intensive training sessions to burn calories, and the final, brutal phase of water depletion. She has referred to the entire bantamweight endeavor as "the sacrifice."

From 155 to 135: The Physics and Future of a Two-Division Drop

Harrison’s successful move to 135 lbs is a testament to her dedication, but it raises critical questions about the longevity of her career in the division. The physics of the weight cut directly influence her future title defenses.

The PFL vs. UFC Weight Dynamic

In the PFL, Harrison primarily competed at 155 pounds, a weight class that allowed her to showcase her elite grappling and physical strength without the debilitating effects of a massive cut. Her move to the UFC required a complete overhaul of her diet, training, and body composition to safely make the 135-pound limit. This two-division drop is rare for an athlete of her size and muscle mass.

The concern among fans and commentators is the potential for diminishing returns. While she was successful at UFC 300 and UFC 316, the repeated, severe dehydration could eventually impact her performance, chin, or recovery time. The physical cost of the cut is essentially a debt her body has to pay before every fight.

The Road Ahead: Title Defenses and the 145-Pound Question

As the new UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion, Harrison now has a target on her back. The division is filled with elite competitors who will be watching her weight cut closely, hoping to capitalize on any weakness caused by the brutal process. Potential matchups against top contenders like Raquel Pennington, Irene Aldana, or Mayra Bueno Silva will all carry the same high-stakes weight management pressure.

There is persistent speculation that the UFC may eventually introduce a Women's Featherweight (145 lbs) division, a weight class where Harrison would be far more comfortable and less compromised. Should that division open, it is highly likely Harrison would move up, instantly becoming the top contender and potentially a two-division champion without the "wanted to quit" struggle. Until then, the weight cut remains the greatest, and most dangerous, opponent for the double Olympic Gold Medalist.

kayla harrison weight cut ufc 316
kayla harrison weight cut ufc 316

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