Kayla Harrison gets challenged for interim belt by Brazilian star on five-fight winning streak after manager reveals Julianna Pena's alleged injury

Kayla Harrison may soon have an opportunity to challenge for the interim bantamweight belt. The UFC women’s bantamweight division has recently undergone significant upheaval.

Following Amanda Nunes’ retirement in the summer of 2023, Raquel Pennington seized the vacant title with a somewhat lackluster victory over Mayra Bueno Silva. In an attempt to revitalize the division, the UFC has signed former PFL champion Kayla Harrison, who made an immediate impression with a dominant victory over Holly Holm in April.

Though fans anticipated a showdown between Harrison and Pennington for the title, the UFC instead booked Julianna Pena for the shot at the bantamweight crown. At UFC 307 in October, Harrison and Pena secured decision victories over Ketlen Vieira and Raquel Pennington, respectively.

However, Harrison’s hopes for a title fight may be delayed as Pena is reportedly dealing with an undisclosed injury, according to Harrison’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz.

In light of this, the UFC is considering an interim title fight, with Harrison being challenged by rising contender Norma Dumont. Dumont, currently on a five-fight winning streak, most recently defeated Irene Aldana via unanimous decision in September.

Taking to Instagram, Dumont expressed her readiness for the opportunity, stating:

“I hope they don’t accept a fight for the interim belt with an athlete who is coming off a defeat to Juliana [Pena]. I am the athlete with the longest streak in the category and the only one who has the physical and technical capacity to overcome it. And you know it! So we’re going to have a really interesting fight for the bantamweight [interim title].” [H/t: BJPenn]

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When Ali Abdelaziz likened Kayla Harrison to UFC icon Khabib Nurmagomedov

Ali Abdelaziz, the manager of MMA stars like Khabib Nurmagomedov, recently made a bold comparison between his fighter Kayla Harrison and the former UFC lightweight champion.

In a statement that raised eyebrows, Abdelaziz claimed that Harrison, a two-time PFL women’s lightweight champion, would soon become one of the most avoided fighters in the sport, drawing parallels to Khabib’s rise to dominance before claiming UFC gold.

Abdelaziz said:

"Where is Raquel, Julianna everyone was talking about demise of @KaylaH 2024 she will be the most avoided Fighter, reminds me of Khabib before become champion. Amanda never gonna come back don't get too excited."