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Kayla Harrison: “I’m very Fortunate People I Train With Don’t Treat Me Different From The Guys”

Kayla Harrison: “I’m very Fortunate People I Train With Don’t Treat Me Different From The Guys”

 

 

World of female MMA is relatively young. So it’s no surprise Kayla Harrison is taking a trip down the rabbit hole. After all she comes from the world of judo where there’s a gender equality at least to a degree.

“I definitely feel that women in MMA receive more equality than most other martial arts,” Harrison told ProfessionalFightersLeague.com. “But I’m also coming from a sport where men and women are completely equal and it’s an amateur sport. There are seven male weight classes and seven female weight classes in the Olympics for judo. Imagine how much faster women’s MMA would grow if that were the case. As a judoka, I was the highest paid ever in our country’s history, because I was the best thanks to my coaches and their tireless efforts to make it better for the next generation; male or female. MMA is better than it’s ever been, but I have high hopes that one day this discussion won’t need to be had. They will just be equal. Period.”

Still there’s quite a bit of room for improvement:

“Not yet but it’s getting there,” Harrison said of equal treatment for men and women. “I’d love to see more weight classes and better pay for ALL fighters based on results and not entertainment value. There’s still very much the ‘sex sells’ vibe for women’s MMA and I think really it’s an insult to not only women, but also to fans. Put the best fighters in front of each other regardless of looks, mouth, age, weight, etc. and I bet people will watch.”

Harrison hasn’t encountered this type of negative feedback as she begins her journey into MMA.

“I’m very fortunate that the people I train with (Mark DellaGrotte, Andy Cote, Jimmy Pedro his father, Renzo Gracie among others,) don’t treat me any differently from the guys. In fact, even the male fighters respect me and have helped me grow so much in such a short time. When you’re a martial artist, a true martial artist, you value heart, respect and loyalty. I think the fighters see that in me and so we are equals. I learn so much everyday from them because I’m not an Olympic champion, I’m not a woman, I’m a fighter with a big heart and a thirst for knowledge. And that is universally respected.”

Still Harrison is aware that some people, like UFC vet Royce Gracie don’t see the women in MMA as a viable vocation:

“Show up to any of my training,” Harrison said. “Watch me outwork you, watch me grow and then tell me I don’t deserve the same rights as you. Until then I’ll keep my head down and ‘be so good they can’t ignore me.’”