Vieira accuses Harrison of ‘running’ from alleged UFC 303 fight offer

In response to Ketlen Vieira, the UFC needs her to face Kayla Harrison at UFC 303.

Vieira (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), who’s presently No. 2 within the UFC’s girls’s bantamweight rankings, claims the promotion supplied her Harrison for June 29 at T-Cell Area in Las Vegas. The Brazilian says she accepted, however has but to listen to again from Harrison’s aspect.

“She is likely to be the shiny new toy, however identical to any toy, she must be performed with and examined,” Vieira informed MMA Mania on Harrison via an interpreter. “Even Julianna Peña – she hasn’t fought for 2 years. She isn’t deserving of the title shot. I used to be supplied the (Harrison) combat for June 29. I stated sure, after which they nonetheless didn’t give it to me. I’m not completely satisfied in any respect.”

Vieira is accusing Harrison (17-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) of ducking her. Harrison ran via Holly Holm in her promotional debut at UFC 300, and referred to as for both a title shot or an interim title combat vs. Peña if champion Raquel Pennington isn’t wholesome.

“Evidently Kayla is simply not taking the combat,” Vieira stated. “If the UFC supplied the combat, the UFC needs the combat. It’s simply Kayla not taking it. Within the UFC, there’s solely nice athletes and if she thinks she’s going to say no to this combat and take a neater combat, there’s no simple fights. We’re all excellent athletes. She has to cease operating and take the combat and signal the contract.”

Vieira simply needs to get nearer to the title. Though Harrison is ranked under her, she’s conscious of how large a win could be over the two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka.

“My identify’s not Germaine (de Randamie) or Julianna Peña, so I don’t choose fights,” Vieira stated. “On the similar time, I do know that I have to go up. I’m going to take any combat that’s going to get me to the belt as a result of I do know I deserve that belt. I would like that belt. Kayla, regardless that she’s somebody that’s beginning (in UFC), it might be a giant combat that might deliver me the eye and get me to that belt.

“I’m trying to (combat) ranked fighters, improve my rating, and I’ve been cleared for that date. I stated sure to that combat, so I’m able to combat round that date. However I desire a combat that’s going to take me to the belt, which is what I deserve.”