Kayla Harrison’s first UFC bantamweight title defense is expected to come against the consensus female GOAT.
Harrison set up a long-awaited and highly anticipated matchup with her title-winning performance at UFC 316 in early June. In the pay-per-view’s co-main event at Newark’s Prudential Center, Harrison submitted Julianna Pena with a kimura to become the UFC’s new bantamweight queen.
And it didn’t take long for the champ to have her first defense lined up, as Harrison faced off with Amanda Nunes inside the Octagon.
The pair are familiar with one another, having trained together at American Top Team before the Brazilian’s departure. That seemed to have created some tension between the two, and Dern expects the challenger to have the last laugh.
Mackenzie Dern backs Amanda Nunes to knock out Kayla Harrison
Like both Harrison and Nunes, Dern was present in Las Vegas to take part in the International Fight Week festivities and get a close view of Ilia Topuria’s knockout against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317.
During her appearance at UFC X beforehand, the grappling specialist previewed Nunes’ comeback in an interview with MMA Crazy.
Despite some time away, Dern expects Nunes to make yet another statement of her superiority by dispatching Harrison inside the distance.
“In my opinion, there is no one like Amanda. If there is anyone to come back out of retirement and put on a show, it’s her,” Dern said. “I’m super excited for her to come back.
“I think she has everything to have an extra long career now in her comeback, if she decides to.
“I think she knocks her (Harrison) out. Amanda is just — her punches are so good,” Dern added. “Kayla, her takedowns and everything are super good, her control, you know? You can see how technical she is.
“(But) Amanda just has so much experience of landing those shots and all the pressure. I don’t think Kayla has that experience with such hard punchers.”
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Kayla Harrison responded to similar prediction from Demetrious Johnson
Dern is not the first to predict a quick end to Harrison’s reign.
UFC GOAT contender Demetrious Johnson also suggested as much when he branded a defense against Nunes a “very, very bad idea” for the newly crowned bantamweight queen.
Harrison reacted to Johnson’s take respectfully on social media.
“Big fan of Mighty. Bigger believer in myself.”
The two-time Olympic gold medalist will now look to prove her doubters wrong by spoiling Nunes’ return from retirement in their highly anticipated clash of ex-teammates.