Kayla Harrison lived up to the hype at UFC 300 this past weekend (April 13, 2024).
An early scare from a reversed judo throw was about as much adversity as the former two-time Professional Fighters League (PFL) Lightweight champion faced against Holly Holm in her Octagon debut. Harrison still overwhelmed “The Preacher’s Daughter” in that opening round, officially out-striking her 56 total strikes to seven, per UFC Stats. Ultimately, Harrison, 33, rinsed and repeated the effort in round two en route to a rear-naked choke victory (watch highlights).
Several questions surrounded Harrison ahead of what was also her first fight at Bantamweight. The weight cut wasn’t easy, Harrison admitted after making the 136-pound mark this past Friday (April 14, 2024). Now 17-1 after the Holm win, the two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo has had her record and level of competition questioned throughout the entirety of her PFL run. However, PFL Founder, Donn Davis, believes the performance only proved what he and the company have always believed.
“Kayla is @PFLMMA Champion … so no surprise her dominant UFC debut win,” Davis tweeted. “@KaylaH destroyed @HollyHolm former @UFC Champion and #2 rank. PFL Champions – can beat anyone.”
Harrison closed out her PFL career on a positive note at the PFL 2023 Championship in November 2023. A unanimous decision nod over former UFC Bantamweight contender, Aspen Ladd, got Harrison back in the win column after she suffered her only career loss to Larissa Pacheco in the finals of the 2022 Lightweight season (watch highlights).
The one-sided showing against Holm sets Harrison up nicely to be right in the championship conversation for her next time out. There might also be the potential to entice a G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) back into the Octagon, if lucky.
For complete UFC 300 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.
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