LAS VEGAS – Ali Abdelaziz says there’s underlying history between Kayla Harrison and Ronda Rousey.
With rumors of a Rousey (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) return, UFC bantamweight champion Harrison (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has expressed interest in fighting her. Ex-UFC champ Rousey is currently linked to a boxing match with Katie Taylor, but Harrison doubts it happens.
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The other matchup Rousey is linked to is against former Strikeforce title challenger Gina Carano. Abdelaziz would love to see his client get an opportunity to compete against Rousey after she defends her title against the returning Amanda Nunes in the UFC 324 co-headliner on Jan. 24.
“I think we’re seeing greatness in the making – she’s already great, man,” Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie of Harrison. “Two-time Olympic champion, two-time PFL champion, a UFC champion. We brought Amanda out of her hole just for legacy. Kayla doesn’t need Amanda, but I think it would be nice to have Amanda on her resume. Maybe we’ll have Amanda, she’ll smash Amanda, she’ll stop her under three rounds. After that, maybe Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano fight and ultimate grudge match: Kayla Harrison-Ronda Rousey, for all the marbles.”
Harrison lost to Rousey twice in judo matches prior to both women capturing medals in the Olympics. Not only would this be a trilogy bouts of some sorts, Abdelaziz says it’s a grudge match as well.
“There’s a lot of beef,” Abdelaziz said. “In the judo days, a lot of bad things happened between these two teams, and I think it’ll be one of the biggest – it’s not Amanda. I think Ronda Rousey-Kayla Harrison is one of the biggest fights in UFC history. It might do bigger numbers than Khabib (Nurmagomedov) and (Conor) McGregor because there’s a lot of nasty sh*t in the closet. I don’t think they like each other. I don’t think they respect each other. Kayla can say whatever she wants, but I know deep down inside she doesn’t like Ronda.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ali Abdelaziz: Kayla Harrison vs. Ronda Rousey does massive numbers
