Kayla Harrison, a former two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, has made a successful transition to MMA, dominating in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) before recently signing with the UFC. Harrison’s impressive record of 15-1 in the PFL, with an overall record of 17-1, earned her two lightweight titles during her tenure with the promotion.
Despite the success she found in the PFL, Harrison decided to part ways with the promotion and make the move to the UFC. This decision came as a surprise to PFL founder Donn Davis, who compared Harrison’s departure to a scenario involving two of the NBA’s biggest stars, LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
Harrison made her UFC debut at UFC 300, competing at bantamweight for the first time in her career. One criticism of Harrison’s MMA career has been the level of competition she has faced, with the PFL creating a lightweight division specifically for her due to her aversion to weight-cutting.
In her UFC debut, Harrison faced former UFC champion Holly Holm and secured a victory with a second-round rear-naked choke. Despite the loss of Harrison, Davis remains confident in the PFL’s ability to attract and develop talent, emphasizing the promotion’s unique marketing and promotion strategies.
As Harrison embarks on this new chapter of her career in the UFC, her success in the PFL serves as a testament to her skill and determination in the world of MMA. With her impressive track record and continued success, Harrison is poised to make a significant impact in the UFC’s bantamweight division.