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New York \u2014 UFC women\u2019s bantamweight champ Kayla Harrison, returning from neck surgery this Saturday at UFC 334, admits that when it comes to former teammate Amanda Nunes, \u201cwe\u2019re not friends anymore. This is a fight.\u201d<\/p>\n
That having been said, ahead of the card\u2019s co-main event, American Top Team owner Dan Lambert had suggested that the two actually hated each other. That\u2019s something Harrison downplayed on Wednesday, speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no hate at all. Zero hate,\u201d stated Harrison (19-1), who was supposed to face Nunes almost a year ago, only for a neck injury to derail the fight. \u201cThis is not a Colby-Masvidal, this is not a bad blood grudge fight. This is two women who, I truly believe that I am the best in the world, and I think she believes that she is the best in the world. And we are going to go out on Saturday night, and we are going to leave it all out there and hopefully have the greatest fight of all time for women, for now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I have zero hate in my heart,\u201d Harrison continued, suggesting Lambert was being \u201cWWE Dan\u201d (he has, after all, had some involvement in pro wrestling). \u201cI don\u2019t have hate in my heart for anybody, and that\u2019s saying something, because I\u2019ve been f*cked over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harrison continues to train at American Top Team, Nunes\u2019s former home. \u201cThe Lioness\u201d left the gym towards the end of her first run in MMA, setting up her own camp.<\/p>\n
As for Harrison\u2019s approach to the fight, which sees Nunes return from retirement, \u201cI think that my job is to go out there and make tough spots. And to put the pressure on. To be smart, but to put the pressure on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no quit in me, and I think that that\u2019s why this fight is so exciting. No only are we old training partners, but now you have the classic striker versus grappler. And when it comes to fighting styles, we couldn\u2019t be more different in my opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harrison\u2019s coach sees two types of athletes: thoroughbreds and workhorses. \u201cI\u2019m a workhorse, and she\u2019s a thoroughbred. She\u2019s big and flashy and she\u2019s got a lot of knockouts and highlight reels, and more of a grind it out, grit fighter. We\u2019re about to go find out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Given the severity of Kayla Harrison\u2019s recent neck troubles, there\u2019s been speculation that UFC 334 could be her swan song. Asked whether this feels like her final fight week, she replied by saying \u201cwe\u2019ll cross that bridge when we get to it. We\u2019ll see. I\u2019m really grateful to be back, doing what I love again, against the greatest of all time. And I can\u2019t wait.\u201d<\/p>\n