Kayla Jean Harrison, born on July 2, 1990, is an American professional mixed martial artist and former judoka. She is the first female fighter to win an Olympic gold medal and a UFC championship. Currently, she competes in the women's Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is the reigning UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion.
Harrison is a former two-time Professional Fighters League lightweight champion. In judo, Harrison won the women’s 78 kg gold medal at the 2010 World Judo Championships and gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. In 2016, she was promoted to Rokudan (6th-degree black belt) by the United States Judo Association, becoming the youngest ever to achieve the rank. In March 2023, Harrison was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.
Kayla Harrison at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Early Life and Judo Career
Born in Middletown, Ohio, Harrison began judo at the age of six, introduced to the sport by her mother, who was a black belt. She started training under coach Daniel Doyle and won two national championships by the age of 15. During that period, Doyle sexually abused Harrison, who reported it, leading to Doyle's conviction. Harrison changed weight classes in 2008, moving from the -63 kg division to the -78 kg division. She could not compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics as the United States had not qualified in that division.
Harrison won the gold medal in the -78 kg category at the 2010 World Championships, the first American to do so since 1999. At the 2011 World Championships in Paris, she placed third, taking the bronze medal.
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Transition to MMA
Harrison, a former training partner of fellow judoka Ronda Rousey, announced in October 2016 that she had signed with World Series of Fighting. After becoming second in the preliminary round standing, Harrison secured a position at the playoffs.
Harrison started with the PFL in 2018 and dominated the promotion for five years. She avenged her sole loss to Larissa Pacheco, a fighter she had already defeated twice, when she finished her PFL run with a victory against Aspen Ladd in November.
UFC Debut and Championship Win
At UFC 300, Kayla Harrison got the chance she had been awaiting. The two-time Olympic gold medalist made her UFC debut later that night, stepping into the Octagon for a women’s bantamweight bout against Holly Holm. On January 23, 2024, Kayla Harrison signed with the UFC, setting the stage for her debut at bantamweight against Holly Holm at UFC 300.
Harrison competed for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship against two-time champion Julianna Peña on June 7, 2025, at UFC 316. Harrison secured a kimura submission in the second round to win the title. Peña was deducted one point in round 1 due to illegal upkicks.
Kayla Harrison submits Holly Holm at UFC 300
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In June, Harrison won the UFC bantamweight title, submitting Julianna Peña in the second round at UFC 316. The victory was a long time coming for the two-time Olympic gold medalist and set up a long-awaited fight with former champion Amanda Nunes, who was in attendance at UFC 316.
“I get out of bed every morning fired up to fight Holly Holm,” said Harrison. “I consider her a legend of the sport and a pioneer. She’s probably the toughest fighter in the division for me. After this fight, a lot more people will know who I am.”
Future Prospects
“There’s a fight on the horizon,” Harrison told Jorge Masvidal on his Death Row podcast. “… I can’t say that. It’s not booked yet. It’s a fight that we all want to see happen, and it’s going to happen sooner rather than later. Before [the UFC White House card]. My perfect world, I fight soon, and then I fight again at the White House. But for sure, I’m going to be on the White House card. I’m the only American champion currently.”
Harrison and Nunes were briefly teammates at American Top Team, but Nunes left the gym once Harrison arrived, saying she knew the two would fight one day. It was heavily rumored that Harrison was going to join the UFC in 2022 to make that fight happen, but then Nunes lost to Julianna Peña, and Harrison re-signed with PFL for another two years.
Now, almost four years later, it seems the two will finally meet up inside the cage, and Harrison intends to make short work of her before, hopefully, setting her sights on another all-time great. “For sure, I’m not done,” Harrison said when asked if Nunes would be her last fight. vs. Russia, Rocky IV style.”
It was heavily rumored that Harrison was going to join the UFC in 2022 to make that fight happen, but then Nunes lost to Julianna Peña, and Harrison re-signed with PFL for another two years.
Now, almost four years later, it seems the two will finally meet up inside the cage, and Harrison intends to make short work of her before, hopefully, setting her sights on another all-time great.
“For sure, I’m not done,” Harrison said when asked if Nunes would be her last fight. vs. Russia, Rocky IV style.”
Shevchenko is not Russian, but Kyrgyz and Peruvian, and when Masvidal informed Harrison of this, she continued on anyway. “Whatever. She looks like a Russian assassin,” Harrison said. “She looks like a Russian spy, so I think that would be good. Or everybody been talking about how Ronda [Rousey] is coming back, so that would be great.“Or whoever is next in line. I literally don’t care. I’ll fight anybody.”
Shevchenko defends her flyweight title against former strawweight champion Zhang Weili next week at UFC 322 in New York.
Only 32, Harrison appears to have arrived in the UFC at the right moment. She avenged her sole loss to Larissa Pacheco, a fighter she had already defeated twice, when she finished her PFL run with a victory against Aspen Ladd in November.
Key Achievements and Awards
Kayla Harrison has received numerous accolades throughout her career:
- Won the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. 2024
- Fan's Choice Submission of the Year Nominee vs. Holly Holm
- Fan's Choice Debut of the Year Nominee vs. 2024
- Best Newcomer of the 1HY (2024)
- Ranked #3 Submission of the Year vs. 2012 O.C.
- #5 Ranked Submission of the Year vs. 2025
Olympic Hero - Kayla Harrison | UFC Connected
Overcoming Adversity
Though that was her first defeat, Harrison is well-versed in loss. As a child, she was sexually abused by her coach, who was convicted and sentenced to prison. That led Harrison on a journey that brought her just outside of Boston, where the Pedro family-Big Jim and his son Jimmy, who is one of the most decorated judo players in American history- helped Harrison rebuild her soul.
“I came to the Pedros at rock bottom,” said Harrison. “I was young and hopeless and very broken. Big Jim was fierce but honest, and with a heart of gold. Jimmy was so positive and motivating. They never gave up on me. They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and they helped build me back up. That’s where I strengthened my ability to overcome anything.”
Harrison’s unbreakable spirit will be on full display in the cage tonight, where she looks to make her first UFC appearance one that is victorious.
“People thought that was my first loss [against Pacheco in November of 2022], but it wasn’t,” said Harrison. “I already knew loss outside the cage. My father committed suicide. My sister has struggled with addiction. I lost the innocence of my childhood. I’ve already been through the worst of the worst. Nothing in that cage can break me.”
Preparing for the Future
Bold and brave, Harrison is prepared to showcase new levels of brilliance in the UFC.
“This has been the best camp of my life,” said Harrison. “I have this peace I’ve never had before.
“I am at the point in my career where I am no longer pretending,” Harrison said. “I am a mixed martial artist. I’m not just a grappler, I’m not just a judo player in a cage, I’m super comfortable everywhere. A big topic of conversation anytime the UFC goes to Salt Lake City is the elevation and how the athletes are going to adjust.
“I borrowed Dustin Poirier’s altitude tent, so I was sleeping in that before we came out here and I also came out early, about two weeks ahead of the fight, just to acclimate, and get comfortable,” Harrison said.
Kayla Harrison is planning to have a big 2026. There’s a lot on the line in the 135-pound division, as the title is up for grabs in the co-main event as champion Raquel Pennington takes on Julianna Peña.