Calm Down, Kayla! ‘Rocky’ Returning ASAP

Kayla Harrison heard UFC bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington is hurt.

That’s why the former PFL titleholder was looking to score an interim title fight against one-time bantamweight champion Julianna Pena, who is expected to return from a prolonged rib injury later this year. Unfortunately, nobody checked with “Rocky.”

“Interim title??? She needs to calm down,” Pennington told ESPN MMA. “I’ve already discussed a timeframe for a title defense later this year.”

Harrison, 33, made her UFC debut at the UFC 300 event last weekend in Las Vegas, steamrolling former bantamweight champion Holly Holm with a second-round submission. As for Pennington, 35, she’s coming off a decision victory over Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 297 earlier this year in Toronto.

Debuting at No. 4 in the official UFC rankings, Harrison trails the aforementioned Pena and Silva, as well as Ketlen Vieira, in the 135-pound pecking order.

Hopefully matchmakers can sort this out sooner, rather than later.