‘People have short memories’: Ketlen Vieira says one-trick pony Kayla Harrison ‘underestimates me’ ahead of UFC 307

Ketlen Vieira has a point to prove at UFC 307.

The UFC veteran is once again in contention for a shot at the bantamweight title with a win, and believes that can finally happen if she defeats two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison this Saturday in Salt Lake City, especially with all the hype around the former PFL champion.

“I think she underestimates me,” Vieira said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “If she says she is better than me in every way, she underestimates me. She is a very good athlete, she is an Olympic medalist for a reason, but she is not better than me at everything, because she is completely dependent on the fight on the ground. We haven’t seen her on her feet in three rounds. Maybe she can do that in the future, but I don’t see that yet.”

Harrison said Wednesday during the UFC 307 media day that she believes she can “beat all three girls in the same night,” referring to her upcoming opponent and both UFC 307 co-headliners, Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña.

Harrison has fought just once in the octagon, dominating Holm and finishing with a rear naked choke. Vieira also has a win over Holm, as well as Miesha Tate, Cat Zingano and Sara McMann.

“I’m already used to this,” Vieira said. “People always say I’m the underdog and I’m still here beating the best. I’ve been here before. When I fought McMann, the winner would fight for the belt, and I would win. When I fought Cat Zingano, the only woman to beat Amanda (Nunes in the UFC), the winner went for the title, and I won. I beat two other ex-champs, Miesha and Holly. I’m used to big fights. People have short memories and keep underestimating me.”

Vieira sees the Harrison clash as a “semifinal” to determine the next contender in the 135-pound division, and expects Pennington to successfully defend her throne against Peña on Saturday.

“It’s a great fight for me,” Vieira said of Harrison. “I’m more complete than Kayla, I have more tools. I have a good ground game and also good judo. You can’t learn to defend judo takedowns in judo, but I’ve done that all my life. And I am also evolving on my feet. I become more complete every day. If I have to wrestle her, I will. If I have to trade places with her, I will. She can’t do the same because she is completely dependent on her ground game.”