UFC 307's Ketlen Vieira says Kayla Harrison 'hasn't proven herself'

SALT LAKE CITY — Ketlen Vieira doesn't believe Kayla Harrison was properly tested.

Vieira (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) will face two-time PFL lightweight champion Harrison (17-1 MMA, 1st) on the main card of UFC 307 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+) on Saturday at Delta -0 UFC). Center in Salt Lake City.

Harrison is also a two-time Olympic judoka champion. She defeated Holly Holm in her Octagon debut and is exuding confidence ahead of UFC 307. However, Vieira believes Harrison's hype isn't quite justified yet.

“As for Kayla, listen: She has a good name in judo,” Vieira said through an interpreter to MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC 307 media day on Wednesday. “I don’t think she’s proven herself in MMA.

“A lot of people tend to mix things up and I think it hasn't stood the test of time. She just had a fight (in the UFC). I feel really prepared for this and think this is the right time. I’m confident this is the fight that will take me to title contention.”

Harrison said she believes she can defeat bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington, title challenger Julianna Peña and Vieira in one night. Vieira believes she is delusional.

“I think she needs to pinch herself or someone needs to pinch her to see if she's dreaming or something because I just don't understand where that's coming from,” Vieira said. “I think she's an athlete who is particularly reliant on the ground game.

“But listen, I can hit with the best of them. I'm not sure she can do something like that. I wrestled someone who has an Olympic medal. I did jiu-jitsu with the best. I think I do all of these things. I don’t think she can do it.”

Harrison is being heavily touted as the next title contender if she gets past Vieira. The Brazilian expects the same treatment.

“I think I've been on the cusp of this for so long, and I've been in this position for quite some time,” Vieira said. “I was waiting for this opportunity but it just never happened. I fought Sara (McMann) with three wins and thought I was fighting for a title after that. I did not understand.

“(I) fought Cat Zingano, who beat Amanda Nunes, and thought, 'Well, that's a shot at the title.' It never happened again. I've been at it since 2018, just fighting for it and believing that everything happens for a reason. There is not my time – it is God’s time, and things happen because they have to happen.”

For more information on the card, check out MMA Junkie's UFC 307 event hub.