Two-time American Olympic judo medalist Kayla Harrison can beat you up with her words, too.
During a media conference call with Harrison and her upcoming opponent, Genah Fabian, ahead of the mixed martial artist’s match Thursday at PFL, a reporter first mispronounced Fabian’s name before saying, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a pretty woman.”
The reporter, who introduced himself as “Millz from Pub Sports Radio,” then asked a question about whether Fabian would be aggressive, to which the 31-year-old corrected his mispronunciation of her name.
Harrison interrupted the exchange to address the reporter, saying: “Hey, I got a question for you.”
“If you were interviewing a guy, would you say to him, after pronouncing his name wrong, would you say, ‘Hey, by the way you’re a real handsome guy. But, oh, you can fight too,’” she said. “Like, would you say that to a guy? No. You just base how you talk to them on their skill and based off of them as a human being.
“Not, ‘Oh! You’re a beautiful man!’”
Harrison ended her rant by telling the reporter he was “disrespectful” and that Fabian was a “professional.”
Millz stammered before attempting to backtrack and explain what he really meant, but Harrison wasn’t having it.
The 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 takes place Thursday at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fl. ESPN will air the main card following the prelims on ESPN+.