According to Ketlen Vieira, the UFC wants her to face Kayla Harrison at UFC 303.
Vieira (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), who is currently No. 2 in the UFC women's bantamweight rankings, claims the promotion has given Harrison the right to fight June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. She says the Brazilian has accepted the request, but has not yet heard back from Harrison.
“She may be a shiny new toy, but like any toy, she needs to be played with and tested,” Vieira told MMA Mania about Harrison through an interpreter. “Even Juliana Peña, she hasn't fought in two years. She doesn't deserve a title shot. I was offered a fight (with Harrison) on June 29th. I said yes, but they… They haven't given me an offer yet. I'm not happy about it at all.”
Vieira accused Harrison (17-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) of ducking her. Harrison ran through her promotional debut against Holly Holm at UFC 300 and called for a title fight or an interim title fight against Pena if champion Raquel Pennington is not healthy.
“Kayla doesn't seem to be in the fight,” Vieira said. “If the UFC offered the fight, the UFC wants the fight. Kayla just hasn't accepted it. There are only great athletes in the UFC, and if she said no to this fight, it would be easier.” There's no such thing as an easy game. We're all very good athletes. She has to stop running, fight, and sign the contract.”
Vieira just wants to get closer to the title. Although Harrison is ranked below her, she recognizes how significant her victory was over the two-time Olympic gold medal-winning judoka.
“My name is not Jermaine (de Randamie) or Julianna Peña, so I'm not going to fight,” Vieira said. “At the same time, I know I have to move up. I know I deserve that belt, so I'm going to fight any match to get that belt. I want that belt. Kayla, Even though she's a fighter just starting out (in the UFC), it's going to be a big fight to get me noticed and get me to that belt.
“I'm looking to (fight) ranked fighters and move up in the rankings, and I got cleared for that day. I said yes to that fight, so I wasn't ready to fight before or after that date. But I want to fight for the belt and that's what I deserve.”
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