Kayla Harrison possesses a level of physical conditioning that stands out in the UFC, which perhaps annoys rival Julianna Peña. However, this doesn`t imply the two-time Olympic gold medalist achieved her physique through performance-enhancing drugs.
This is according to Mike Brown, Harrison`s long-time head coach at American Top Team, who addressed Peña`s recent claims. Peña, Harrison`s opponent at UFC 316, accused her of using steroids, suggesting she “hopefully cycles off of them before June 7,” the date of their co-main event bout.
Despite Harrison having never failed a single drug test, Peña made the accusations. Brown was quick to dismiss them.
“I understand,” Brown commented. “She doesn`t look like a typical fighter, but that`s just how it is. Some people aren`t typical; they have extraordinary physiques. These individuals, these `freaks,` are often the ones who reach the pinnacle of sports.”
He added, “People come in all shapes and sizes, with varying levels of strength, speed, quickness, and endurance. Just because you aren`t built that way doesn`t mean someone else can`t be.”
Peña offered no evidence for her claims, stating Harrison “looked like a girl” and was “very feminine” during her Olympic career, but now appears “super juicy and cut up” since transitioning to MMA.
Peña overlooked the fact that Harrison won her Olympic titles competing at 78 kilograms (nearly 172 pounds), requiring same-day weigh-ins, unlike MMA. Since focusing on fighting, Harrison initially competed at 155 pounds before dropping further to fight at 135 pounds in the UFC.
In essence, Harrison is now competing and living at a considerably lower weight than during her Olympic judo career, which naturally accounts for changes in her physique and appearance. If Peña relies on the “eye test,” Brown suggests that a stable physique over time is a better indicator of a clean athlete.
“For me, a primary sign of a clean athlete is consistency,” Brown explained. “Their body remains relatively unchanged over extended periods. Kayla is consistently the same. She doesn`t fluctuate dramatically. Of course, weight cutting causes temporary changes, but someone using illegal substances often shows visible changes week to week. You`ll see fluctuations in people taking testosterone or similar drugs.” He concluded, “No, she is completely clean. Always has been, always will be. She doesn`t need anything illicit. She`s an exceptional athlete, a freak of nature.”
Given Harrison`s extraordinary physical attributes, Brown acknowledges it`s difficult for some to accept that her sculpted physique is entirely natural. However, Brown insists he witnesses the intense effort Harrison invests daily and confirms she takes no shortcuts.
While Peña might struggle to accept it, Brown believes part of her reaction stems from the difficulty of acknowledging that she simply isn`t built like Harrison.
“These kinds of physical specimens do exist,” Brown stated. “People tend to compare others to themselves, based on their own build and background, but that`s not the peak of human potential. There are individuals out there who are truly extraordinary.”
He drew a parallel: “Just like in basketball, you have athletes who are incredibly tall [like 7-foot-6 or 7-foot-7], or athletes with unbelievable muscle mass or seemingly impossible conditioning. Just because you don`t possess those abilities doesn`t mean someone else doesn`t.”
