Ketlen Vieira doesn’t like the direction her division is heading in.
The UFC bantamweight landscape received a massive injection of life earlier this year when former PFL lightweight champion Kayla Harrison was signed to the promotion. Harrison debuted at UFC 300 and looked as impressive as ever, submitting former UFC champion Holly Holm with a second-round rear-naked choke (watch highlights) in what was also her divisional debut earlier this month (April 13, 2024).
Vieira, 32, has yet to compete this year, holding down the No. 2 spot in the official rankings after last earning a unanimous decision against Pannie Kianzad in July 2023. Ready to return after her January matchup against Macy Chiasson fell through, Vieira (14-3) claims Harrison turned her down for a clash at UFC 303 this upcoming International Fight Week in Las Vegas.
“She might be the shiny new toy, but just like any toy, she needs to be played with and tested,” Vieira told MMA Mania. “Even [Julianna] Pena. She hasn’t fought for two years. She isn’t deserving of the title shot.
“I was offered the [Harrison] fight for June 29th. I said yes, and then they still didn’t give it to me. I’m not happy at all.”
MMA Mania has reached out to Harrison for a response to Vieira and will provide an update if received. The targeted UFC 303 event date has already been on the radar of the former Olympian, mentioning a potential interim title bout if current undisputed champion Raquel Pennington is unavailable — a silly idea, believes “Rocky.”
“It seems that Kayla is just not taking the fight,” Vieira said. “If the UFC offered the fight, the UFC wants the fight. It’s just Kayla not taking it. In the UFC, there’s only great athletes and if she thinks she’s going to say no to this fight and take an easier fight, there’s no easy fights. We’re all very good athletes. She has to stop running and take the fight and sign the contract.”
Ultimately, Vieira still likes the timetable to return around UFC 303. Should she challenge for UFC gold sooner rather than later, a fight with Pennington would be a sequel to their January 2023 meeting. Pennington won the bout via a split decision.
“My name’s not Germaine [de Randamie] or Julianna Pena so I don’t pick fights,” Vieira said. “At the same time, I know that I need to go up. I’m going to take any fight that’s going to get me to the belt because I know I deserve that. I want that belt. Kayla was someone that is starting [in UFC] but would be a big fight that would bring me the attention and get me to that belt. I’m looking to [fight] ranked fighters, increase my ranking, and I have been cleared for that date. I said yes to that fight so, I’m ready to fight around that date, but I want a fight that’s going to take me to the belt, which is what I deserve.”