UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison defended Natalia Silva and Wang Cong against Demetrious Johnson’s recent mockery.
The UFC 332 main event between flyweights Natalia Silva and Wang Cong wasn’t viewed as a must-see fight by many fans, pundits, and fellow fighters. Silva defeated Cong by unanimous decision to win the then-vacant UFC flyweight title vacated by Valentina Shevchenko earlier this year.
Ahead of UFC 332, UFC Hall of Famer Demetrious Johnson and former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya hinted at skipping watching the UFC’s return to Salt Lake City. When their podcast producer brought up that Silva vs. Cong was headlining the card, Johnson and Adesanya burst into laughter at the UFC’s decision to put the two flyweights in the main event.
UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison, who was told by Johnson to retire instead of fighting Amanda Nunes last year, didn’t hold back in defense of Silva and Cong.
Kayla Harrison: Demetrious Johnson’s mindset ‘detrimental’ to MMA’s growth
In a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Harrison responded to Johnson and Adesanya’s mockery of the UFC 332 headliner.
“I’m just kind of over [Johnson’s] attitude, I’m over it,” Harrison said of Johnson.
“This mindset of scarcity is detrimental to the growth of the sport. There’s enough room at the table for all of us to eat, and we don’t have to belittle or poke fun or put down anyone else in order to build our own brand. Of course, those girls are not stars yet. But do you know how you build a star? You f—– put them in the main event, and you build them…
“To talk s— about them like that, I just feel it is unnecessary,” Harrison continued on Johnson’s comments. “Super unnecessary.”
Despite Johnson’s opposition, Harrison will face Nunes in the UFC 334 co-main event next month at Madison Square Garden. She hasn’t fought since capturing the women’s bantamweight title last year at UFC 316.
Do you agree with Kayla Harrison’s stance on Natalia Silva vs. Wang Cong? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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