Kayla Harrison
American Olympic judoka and mixed martial artist (born 1990)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kayla Jean Harrison[6] (born July 2, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist and former judoka. She currently competes in the women's Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is the current UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion. She is the first female fighter[a] to win an Olympic gold medal and a UFC championship.[7] She is also a former two-time Professional Fighters League lightweight champion. As of November 18, 2025, she is #2 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.[8]
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July 2, 1990
Middletown, Ohio, U.S.
Featherweight (2020, 2023)
Lightweight (2018–2022)
In judo, Harrison won the women’s 78 kg gold medal in the 2010 World Judo Championships and gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. She remains the only American judoka to have won a gold medal in Judo at the Summer Olympics[9] and the only one to have won a gold medal in the World Judo Championships. 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.[10]
After making her MMA debut in 2018,[11] Harrison won the PFL Lightweight World Tournament in 2019 and successfully repeated as champion in 2021.[12] She signed with the UFC in January 2024,[13] defeating former champion Holly Holm in her promotional debut.[14] In June 2025, she captured the UFC Bantamweight Championship via second-round kimura submission of Julianna Peña.[15]
Harrison was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame in 2012, the United States Judo Federation Hall of Fame in 2015, and the International Sports Hall of Fame in March 2023.
Early life
Born in Middletown, Ohio,[16] Harrison took up judo at the age of six, having been introduced to the sport by her mother, who was a black belt. She graduated from Middletown High School (Ohio).[17]
She began training under coach Daniel Doyle, and won two national championships by the age of 15. During that period, Doyle was sexually abusing Harrison, who reported it to another judoka, who in turn told Harrison's mother. She subsequently reported this to the police.[18] Doyle was convicted and sentenced to a ten-year prison term.[18] A month after the abuse was revealed, she moved away from her home in Ohio to Boston to train with Jimmy Pedro and his father.[18]
Career
Judo
Harrison changed weight classes in 2008, 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. She won the 2008 Junior World Championship that year, and the following year placed second, becoming the first American to compete in two Junior World Championships finals.[16]
Harrison won the gold medal in the –78 kg category at the 2010 World Championships,[19] the first American to do so since 1999 (when her coach, Jimmy Pedro, did so in Birmingham, United Kingdom).[20] At the 2011 World Championships in Paris, she placed third taking the bronze medal. Harrison had lost to the eventual winner, Audrey Tcheuméo of France, in her semi-final.[21]
Prior to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Harrison was injured during training, having torn a medial collateral ligament.[18] On August 2, 2012, she won the Olympic title in the –78 kg category, defeating Gemma Gibbons of Britain by two yukos, to become the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in judo.[22][23] She earned a second Olympic gold medal in the same weight class in 2016 in Rio, defeating Audrey Tcheuméo of France.
In 2015, Harrison was elected to the United States Judo Federation Hall Of Fame[24] and on August 31, 2016, following her second Olympic gold medal, the United States Judo Association promoted Harrison to rokudan (6th Degree Black Belt)[25] making her the youngest person in the US to ever be awarded this rank.[26][27]
Mixed martial arts
Harrison, a former training partner of fellow judoka Ronda Rousey, announced in October 2016 that she had signed with World Series of Fighting. While she would initially work as a commentator she also indicated she was contracted to fight, in the women's 145 pounds (66 kg) division.[28][29]
Professional Fighters League
PFL season 2018
Harrison made her MMA debut at PFL 2 on June 21, 2018, against Brittney Elkin in the Women's Lightweight division.[30] She won via submission due to an armbar in the first round.[31]
For her second professional fight, Harrison faced Jozette Cotton at PFL 6 on August 16, 2018.[32] She won the fight via TKO in the third round.[33]
Harrison was on the main card for PFL 11 in 2018 and defeated Moriel Charneski via first-round TKO; after her victory, it appeared that she was not completely content with her own performance.[34][35]
PFL season 2019
Harrison was expected to headline the first event of PFL's second season against Svetlana Khautova on May 9, 2019.[36] Khautova withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Larissa Pacheco.[37] Harrison won the fight by unanimous decision.[38]
Harrison faced Morgan Frier in the co-main event of PFL 4 on July 11, 2019.[39] She won the fight by key lock submission in the first round.[40] Subsequently, Harrison signed a new long-term contract extension with the PFL.[41]
After becoming second in the preliminary round standing, Harrison secured a position at the playoffs. She was originally scheduled to face number 3 ranked Genah Fabian at PFL 7 on October 11, 2019, but Fabian was forced to pull out of the bout.[42] Fabian was replaced by number 5 Bobbi Jo Dalziel.[43] Harrison would win the fight by an armbar in the first round.[44]
Harrison faced Larissa Pacheco in rematch for the Women's Lightweight final at PFL 10 on December 31, 2019.[45] After dominating every round with her superior grappling, Harrison won the fight by unanimous decision to win the 2019 Women's Lightweight Championship.[46]
PFL season 2020
Harrison was expected to compete in the season 2020 of PFL, but the complete season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[47][48]
Other promotions
With the 2020 PFL season cancelled, Harrison was handed a contract exemption to sign with the Invicta FC and made her debut in the Featherweight division against Courtney King at Invicta FC 43 on November 20, 2020.[49] She won the fight via TKO in the second round.[50]
Harrison was then expected to compete for Titan FC.[51] She was scheduled to face Jozette Cotton in a rematch on December 17, 2020, at Titan FC 66.[52] The day before the fight, Cotton was hospitalized due to a bad weight cut and the bout was cancelled.[53]
PFL season 2021
Kayla faced Mariana Morais on May 6, 2021, at PFL 3 for the start of the 2021 season.[54] She won the bout via TKO in the first round.[55]
Kayla faced Cindy Dandois on June 25, 2021, at PFL 6.[56] She won the bout in the first round via an arm bar submission.[57]
Kayla faced Genah Fabian in the Semifinals of the Women's Lightweight tournament on August 19, 2021, at PFL 8.[58] She won the bout in the first round via TKO by way of ground and pound.[59]
Kayla faced Taylor Guardado in the Finals of the Women's Lightweight tournament on October 27, 2021, at PFL 10.[60] She won the bout via armbar in the second round.[61]
PFL season 2022
Being one of the most sought-after free agents in the sport, Harrison ended up signing a contract with Bellator MMA in March 2022.[62] However, PFL exercised their matching right, and Harrison re-signed – a deal set to be terminated in December 2023 – with them.[62]
Harrison faced Marina Mokhnatkina on May 6, 2022, at PFL 3.[63] She won the bout via unanimous decision.[64]
Harrison was scheduled to face Julia Budd on July 1, 2022, at PFL 6.[65] However, a week before the event, Budd pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Kaitlin Young.[66] Harrison won the bout, with the referee stoppage at the 2:35 mark of the first round.[67]
Harrison faced Martina Jindrová in the Semifinals off the Women's Lightweight tournament on August 20, 2022, at PFL 9.[68] She won the bout in the first round via arm-triangle choke.[69]
Harrison faced Larissa Pacheco for a third time in the finals of the Women's Lightweight tournament on November 25, 2022, at PFL 10.[70] In an upset, she lost the fight via unanimous decision.[71]
PFL season 2023
After a year hiatus, Harrison was scheduled to face Julia Budd at PFL 10 on November 24, 2023.[72] However, Budd was removed from the fight that she "refused to fulfill her contractual obligation" and was replaced by Aspen Ladd at a catchweight of 150 pounds.[73] Harrison won the fight by unanimous decision.[74]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On January 23, 2024, Dana White announced that the UFC had signed Harrison and that she would make her promotional debut, as well as her bantamweight debut, against former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm on April 13, 2024, at UFC 300.[75] Harrison won the fight against Holm by a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.[76]
Harrison faced Ketlen Vieira on October 5, 2024 at UFC 307.[77] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[78]
UFC Bantamweight Champion
Harrison competed for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship against two-time champion (also The Ultimate Fighter 18 Tournament Winner) Julianna Peña on June 7, 2025 at UFC 316. She won the championship via kimura at the end of the second round.[79] This fight earned her a Performance of the Night award.[80] Immediately following the victory, Amanda Nunes entered the octagon to face-off with Harrison.[81]
Harrison was scheduled to defend her title against former two-time champion Amanda Nunes on January 24, 2026 at UFC 324.[82] However, Harrison withdrew from the bout after being diagnosed with herniated discs in her neck, which required surgery. The fight is expected to be rescheduled for a later date.[83]
Personal life
Championships and accomplishments
Hall of Fame
- Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame – Class of 2012[87]
- New York Athletic Club Hall of Fame – Class of 2013[88]
- Middletown High School Athletic Hall of Fame – Class of 2013[89]
- United States Judo Federation Hall of Fame – Class of 2015[90]
- Ohio Judo Hall of Fame – Class of 2020[91]
- International Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 2023[92]
Other
- Women's Sports Foundation
- 2012 Wilma Rudolph Courage Award[93]
- Glamour Women of the Year Awards
- 2012 The "Unstoppables" Award[94]
Judo
- U.S. Olympic Committee
- 2012 O.C. Tanner Inspiration Award[95]
- Olympic Games
- U.S. Olympic Trials
- World Championships
- Pan American Games
- Pan American Championships
- World Masters
- IJF Grand Slam
- IJF Grand Prix
- World Cup
2009 Belo Horizonte[132]- 2010 Warsaw[133]
2010 Belo Horizonte[134]- 2010 Isla de Margarita[135]
- 2010 San Salvador[136]
- 2010 Miami[137]
2010 Tashkent[138]- 2010 Birmingham[139]
- 2011 Miami[140]
- 2011 Puerto La Cruz[141]
- 2012 Budapest[142]
- 2012 Miami[143]
- Pan American Open
- 2013 Montevideo[144]
- 2013 Buenos Aires[145]
- 2014 San Salvador[146]
- 2014 Miami[147]
- European Cup
- World Juniors Championships
- U.S. Open
- Dallas Invitational Open
- Liberty Bell Judo Classic
- 2005 Philadelphia[158]
- Pedro's Judo Challenge
- Puerto Rico Open
- 2007 Puerto Rico[160]
- USA Fall Classic
- 2007 Coral Springs[161]
- 2008 Spokane[162]
- Rendez-Vous Canada
- Kracup Korea Open
- U.S. National Championships
- U.S. Junior National Championships
- U.S. National Junior Olympics
- 2005 Gwinnett County[180]
- 2008 Kissimmee[181]
- Belgian Ladies U20 Open
- Junior U.S. Open
- 2003 Boca Raton[183]
- 2004 Fort Lauderdale[184]
- 2005 Fort Lauderdale[185]
- 2006 Fort Lauderdale (70 kg)[186]
- 2006 Fort Lauderdale (Openweight)[186]
- British Junior Open
- Ohio Judo
- 2003 Outstanding Junior[91]
Mixed martial arts
- Professional Fighters League
- 2019 PFL Women's Lightweight Championship
- First female to win a PFL title[189]
- 2021 PFL Women's Lightweight Championship
- First female two-time PFL champion[190]
- 2019 PFL Women's Lightweight Championship
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship (One time, Current)
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Julianna Peña[80]
- UFC Honors Awards
- UFC.com Awards
- 2024: Best Newcomer of the 1HY,[194] Ranked #3 Submission of the Year vs. Holly Holm[195] & Ranked #2 Newcomer of the Year[196]
- 2025: Ranked #3 Submission of the Year vs. Julianna Peña[197]
- Sports Illustrated
- 2025 Top 50 Most Influential Figures in Sports[198]
- World MMA Awards
- ESPY Awards
- ESPN
- BodySlam.net
- 2024 Female Fighter of the Year[205]
- Good Guy / Bad Guy
- 2024 Female Fighter of the Year[206]
- The Score
- MMA Sucka
- 2022 Female Fighter of the Mid-Year[209]
- Fight Matrix
- MMA Fighting
- 2022 Second Team MMA All-Star[211]
- 2024 Second Team MMA All-Star[212]
- 2025 #5 Ranked Submission of the Year vs. Julianna Peña at UFC 316[213]
- Uncrowned
- 2025 #2 Ranked Women's Fighter of the Year[214]
Mixed martial arts record
| 20 matches | 19 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 6 | 0 |
| By submission | 8 | 0 |
| By decision | 5 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 19–1 | Julianna Peña | Submission (kimura) | UFC 316 | June 7, 2025 | 2 | 4:55 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | Won the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship. Peña was deducted one point in round 1 due to illegal upkicks. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 18–1 | Ketlen Vieira | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 307 | October 5, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 17–1 | Holly Holm | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 300 | April 13, 2024 | 2 | 1:47 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Bantamweight debut. |
| Win | 16–1 | Aspen Ladd | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 10 (2023) | November 24, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Washington, D.C., United States | Catchweight (150 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 15–1 | Larissa Pacheco | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 10 (2022) | November 25, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | New York City, New York, United States | 2022 PFL Women's Lightweight Tournament Final. |
| Win | 15–0 | Martina Jindrová | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | PFL 9 (2022) | August 20, 2022 | 1 | 3:17 | London, England | 2022 PFL Women's Lightweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 14–0 | Kaitlin Young | TKO (punches) | PFL 6 (2022) | July 1, 2022 | 1 | 2:35 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 13–0 | Marina Mokhnatkina | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 3 (2022) | May 6, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Arlington, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 12–0 | Taylor Guardado | Submission (armbar) | PFL 10 (2021) | October 27, 2021 | 2 | 4:00 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | Won the 2021 PFL Women's Lightweight Tournament. |
| Win | 11–0 | Genah Fabian | TKO (punches) | PFL 8 (2021) | August 19, 2021 | 1 | 4:01 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | 2021 PFL Women's Lightweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 10–0 | Cindy Dandois | Submission (armbar) | PFL 6 (2021) | June 25, 2021 | 1 | 4:44 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 9–0 | Mariana Morais | TKO (punches) | PFL 3 (2021) | May 6, 2021 | 1 | 1:23 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Win | 8–0 | Courtney King | TKO (punches) | Invicta FC 43 | November 20, 2020 | 2 | 4:48 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 7–0 | Larissa Pacheco | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 10 (2019) | December 31, 2019 | 5 | 5:00 | New York City, New York, United States | Won the 2019 PFL Women's Lightweight Tournament. |
| Win | 6–0 | Bobbi Jo Dalziel | Submission (armbar) | PFL 7 (2019) | October 11, 2019 | 1 | 3:32 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | 2019 PFL Women's Lightweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 5–0 | Morgan Frier | Submission (keylock) | PFL 4 (2019) | July 11, 2019 | 1 | 3:35 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Larissa Pacheco | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 1 (2019) | May 9, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Uniondale, New York, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Moriel Charneski | TKO (punches) | PFL 11 (2018) | December 31, 2018 | 1 | 3:39 | New York City, New York, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Jozette Cotton | TKO (punches) | PFL 6 (2018) | August 16, 2018 | 3 | 1:24 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Brittney Elkin | Submission (armbar) | PFL 2 (2018) | June 21, 2018 | 1 | 3:18 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Lightweight debut. |
Judo record
Total tournament record: 208 wins and 50 losses.[215]
| Result | Rec. | Opponent | Score | Event | Division | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 45–7 |  Audrey Tcheuméo | 100–000 | 2016 Olympic Games | –78 kg | August 11, 2016 |  Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 44–7 |  Anamari Velenšek | 100–000 | ||||
| Win | 43–7 |  Abigél Joó | 100–000 | ||||
| Win | 42–7 |  Zhang Zhehui | 100–000 | ||||
| Win | 41–7 | Mayra Aguiar | 100–000 | 2016 Pan American Championships | –78 kg | April 24, 2016 |  Havana |
| Win | 40–7 |  Catherine Roberge | 100–000 | ||||
| Win | 39–7 |  Andrymar Alfonzo | 100–000 | ||||
| Loss | 38–7 |  Yoon Hyun-ji | 000–010 | 2015 World Championships | –78 kg | August 28, 2015 |  Astana |
| Win | 38–6 |  Mirla Nolberto | 100–000 | ||||
| Win | 37–6 | Mayra Aguiar | 100–000s1 | 2015 Pan American Games | –78 kg | July 14, 2015 | Toronto |
| Win | 36–6 | Catherine Roberge | 100–000s3 | ||||
| Win | 35–6 | Mirla Nolberto | 100–000 | ||||
| Loss | 34–6 | Mayra Aguiar | 000–000 | 2015 Pan American Championships | –78 kg | April 24, 2015 | Edmonton |
| Win | 34–5 | Catherine Roberge | 100–000 | ||||
| Win | 33–5 |  Miriam Gonzalez | 101–000 | ||||
| Win | 32–5 |  Yahima Ramirez | 000–000 | 2014 World Championships | –78 kg | August 29, 2014 |  Chelyabinsk |
| Loss | 31–5 | Mayra Aguiar | 001–011 | ||||
| Win | 31–4 | Anamari Velenšek | 100–000 | ||||
| Win | 30–4 |  Wang Szu-chu | 101–000 | ||||
| Win | 29–4 | Catherine Roberge | 000–000 | ||||
| Win | 28–4 |  Vanessa Chalá | N/A | 2013 Pan American Championships | –70 kg | April 19, 2013 |  San José |
| Win | 27–4 | Alix Renaud-Roy | N/A | ||||
| Win | 26–4 | Jenifer Ortiz | N/A | ||||
| Loss | 25–4 |  Yuri Alvear | N/A | ||||
| Win | 25–3 | Elvismar Rodríguez | N/A | ||||
| Win | 24–3 |  Gemma Gibbons | 0020–0000 | 2012 Olympic Games | –78 kg | August 2, 2012 | London |
| Win | 23–3 | Mayra Aguiar | 1010–0000 | ||||
| Win | 22–3 | Abigél Joó | 1010–0100 | ||||
| Win | 21–3 | Vera Moskalyuk | 1000–0000 | ||||
| Win | 20–3 | Catherine Roberge | 011–001 | 2011 Pan American Games | –78 kg | October 27, 2011 | Guadalajara |
| Win | 19–3 | Yalennis Castillo | 002–001 | ||||
| Win | 18–3 | Mayra Aguiar | 001–000 | ||||
| Win | 17–3 |  Marhinde Verkerk | 001–000 | 2011 World Championships | –78 kg | August 26, 2011 | Paris |
| Loss | 16–3 | Audrey Tcheuméo | 000–001 | ||||
| Win | 16–2 |  Hitomi Ikeda | 010–000 | ||||
| Win | 15–2 |  Pürevjargalyn Lkhamdegd | 101–000 | ||||
| Win | 14–2 | Catherine Roberge | 001–000 | ||||
| Win | 13–2 | Mayra Aguiar | 000–000 | 2011 Pan American Championships | –78 kg | April 1, 2011 | Guadalajara |
| Win | 12–2 | Yalennis Castillo | 000–000 | ||||
| Win | 11–2 |  Nadjeda Gena | 102–000 | ||||
| Win | 10–2 | Anny Cortés | 102–000 | ||||
| Win | 9–2 | Mayra Aguiar | 001–000 | 2010 World Championships | –78 kg | September 9, 2010 | Tokyo |
| Win | 8–2 |  Maryna Pryshchepa | 102–000 | ||||
| Win | 7–2 | Céline Lebrun | 000–001 | ||||
| Win | 6–2 | Anamari Velenšek | 100–000 | ||||
| Win | 5–2 |  Luise Malzahn | 003–000 | ||||
| Win | 4–2 | Mirla Nolberto | 100–000 | 2010 Pan American Championships | –78 kg | April 9, 2010 |  San Salvador |
| Win | 3–2 | Keivi Pinto | 110–000 | ||||
| Loss | 2–2 | Mayra Aguiar | 000–100 | ||||
| Win | 2–1 |  Lorena Briceño | 100–000 | ||||
| Loss | 1–1 | Amy Cotton | 000–001 | 2009 World Championships | –78 kg | August 26, 2009 | Rotterdam |
| Win | 1–0 | Samantha Lowe | 000–000 |
Notes
- The first fighter to achieve the feat was Henry Cejudo, who was a gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and years later was UFC Flyweight Champion and UFC Bantamweight Champion.
