Fight fans react to ‘unrecognizable’ Kayla Harrison after massive rehydration weight gain for UFC 316: ‘Aren’t IV drips banned?’

Kayla Harrison had to suffer through a massive weight cut for her first-ever UFC women’s bantamweight title fight this weekend at UFC 316 and fight fans took immediate notice.

At Friday’s early weigh ins (see HERE), Harrison successfully stepped on the scale at 135 pounds to make her co-main event title fight against UFC champion Julianna Pena official. This was the first time Harrison had cut down to 135 pounds. Her previous two UFC fights were contested at bantamweight, but the former Olympic gold medalist was able to come in at 136 pounds. That extra pound is everything.

Check out a side-by-side comparison of Harrison right HERE.

Fight fans were already shocked by Harrison’s emaciated look in the morning, but they were in for even a bigger surprise later Friday at UFC 316’s ceremonial weigh ins. That’s because Harrison looked like a completely different person. She had gained back so much weight and muscle in just the span of eight hours that it looked AI-generated. It was quite incredible.

See below (via X):

As expected, fight fans had much to say about Harrison’s transformation ahead of her first UFC title shot later tonight (Sat., June 7, 2025) LIVE on ESPN+ pay-per-view (PPV) from inside Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Check out some of the reaction below and let us know your thoughts!

“Looks like two different people.”

“Is this pic true?”

“This shit needs to stop! Make them fight at their natural weight classes.”

“That’s not hydration, that’s a trip to the salon. Hair and makeup.”

“9am: Trailor park trash…5pm: She Hulk Smash!”

“We are going to look back at weight cutting as craziness one day.”

“It’s like a meth before and after picture.”

“Just make people fight their weight and get rid of the cut. This is scary just to look at….. what’s the point of weighing in at 135 when you’re gonna be at 150-155 on fight night? It makes no sense…”

“Actually lose all credit no matter the outcome to me. You wanna win that bad? Weight bully.”

“Her nutritionist should be the highest paid nutritionist in all of sports.”

“Julianna Pena is cooked.”

“This should be illegal.”

“Aren’t IV drips banned?”

Order UFC 316 RIGHT HERE!

LIVE! Watch UFC 316 PPV On ESPN+ Here!

CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE-DIP! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) continues its 2025 pay-per-view (PPV) schedule on Sat., June 7, 2025, with a championship doubleheader headlining UFC 316 from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. In UFC 316’s PPV main event, Bantamweight roost-ruler, Merab Dvalishvili, defends his title against former division champion, Sean O’Malley, in a highly-anticipated five-round rematch. UFC 316’s PPV co-main event features women’s Bantamweight titleholder, Julianna Pena, facing off against two-time Olympic gold medalist, Kayla Harrison, in a thrilling five-round clash. UFC 316 will also showcase a 135-pound showdown between Patchy Mix vs. Mario Bautista, as well as a Welterweight bout pitting Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland and much more! UFC 316’s start time is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (“Early Prelims”), 8 p.m. ET (“Prelims” undercard) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV main card).

Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching action!

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 316 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ preliminary card matches at 6:00 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the UFC 316 PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 316: “Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 316 fight card and PPV lineup click here.