Ketlen Vieira and Kayla Harrison at UFC 307 ceremonial weigh-in Credit: Dylan Napoleone/Cageside Press
Kayla Harrison and Ketlen Vieira opened the main card of UFC 307 in Salt Lake City with a women’s bantamweight bout that is likely to produce the next title challenger.
Raquel Pennington was looking to defend her title against Julianna Pena later that night, and the winner of Harrison vs. Vieira was in prime position to make her next attack. Harrison, a two-time Olympian and two-time PFL champion, has been touted as a favorite since arriving in the UFC earlier this year.
As the pay-per-view portion of UFC 307 began, Vieira landed the first kick and Harrison landed the first punch. They spun around, bouncing on their feet, perhaps with a bit of nervous energy in the air. Just under 90 seconds into the fight, Harrison went high with a kick, ducked under and scored a takedown. Vieira found himself forced into the fence, but fought off the first attempt. Harrison landed an underhook and a knee to the body, while Vieira tried to ease his opponent with short punches. But Harrison’s knee was the more effective of the two strikes, and she took control, adding punches and then an elbow or two.
However, Vieira survived and broke through the fence, taking the fight back to the center with 90 seconds left in the round. Harrison backs up Vieira with a kick to the body. She added a leg kick to the outside. Moments later, she got her first takedown of the match with a left hand. Harrison quickly went into half guard, then mounted and pulled his leg out. Vieira tried to roll, but he only cut back and was hit with a hard elbow. The Brazilian then tried to get out from behind, but was unable to do so. Harrison stood up and landed some more ground and pound, but Horn stopped him.
The second round started with Harrison flashing a front kick and then a low kick. It was quickly followed by a front kick about a mile wide. The next low kick took Vieira’s leg out from under him. Harrison telegraphed a takedown attempt about 90 seconds later, but Vieira sensed it coming and quickly backed away. The first half of the round wasn’t very good for either woman, but in the end Harrison cornered Vieira against the fence to tie the score. Harrison was a little more aggressive this time, hitting knees and elbows. Vieira countered with an elbow of his own. But Harrison controlled the fight in his comfort zone. The takedown didn’t come, but Vieira was on defense and didn’t score any points, but he had a welt over one eye, probably from an earlier elbow.
In the third round, Harrison quickly closed the distance and took the fight to the fence. However, Vieira was soon freed. A big leg kick from Harrison then tripped Vieira, but Harrison was unable to capitalize and the American lunged for another takedown attempt, but Vieira easily backed down. Attempting another takedown, Vieira freed himself, but Harrison rematched and took care of Tripp, eventually finishing the fight. Going into the third run, the clock read 2 minutes and 45 seconds, giving Kayla Harrison plenty of time.
Vieira pressed his head against the cage and Harrison guarded. While Harrison was trying to find space, the referee urged her to work. Harrison fights back with elbows and punches to the body. The left-handed volley continued. Vieira closed his guard, probably thinking of a triangle, but he didn’t get around to making a triangle. Instead, Harrison lands another elbow or two. Harrison then yanked one leg, slipped the other through Vieira’s guard and took mount with less than a minute left. Vieira allowed his hips, but rolled again and regained half guard, allowing Harrison to land a punch or two more before the final horn.
With wins on all three scorecards, Kayla Harrison is almost certain to be next in line for the title.
Official result: Kayla Harrison def. Ketlen Vieira unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
