Kayla Harrison

Kayla Harrison On Potential Amanda Nunes Return Stealing Title Shot Away From Her

Kayla Harrison is focused on earning her second win inside the Octagon when she returns this weekend at UFC 307. If the former PFL star is able to get past Ketlen Vieira in Salt Lake City, there will be no denying that she is the next contender in line. In fact, she had hoped to […]

Continue Reading Kayla Harrison On Potential Amanda Nunes Return Stealing Title Shot Away From Her at MMA News.

Kayla Harrison is focused on earning her second win inside the Octagon when she returns this weekend at UFC 307.

If the former PFL star is able to get past Ketlen Vieira in Salt Lake City, there will be no denying that she is the next contender in line.

In fact, she had hoped to be fighting for the title in the fight that will happen later on in the night between the champion Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña.

There is potentially one scenario that could prevent this from happening, though, if a certain former champion decides that she wants her belt back.

Kayla Harrison Says She’s Happy For Amanda Nunes To Cut The Line Only After She Is Champion

Harrison has expressed some concern that Peña could hold the title up if she becomes champion this weekend because she isn’t the most active fighter on the roster.

The other factor to consider is that if Peña does win the belt back against Pennington, there’s a trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes that she has been very vocal about getting.

Nunes announced her retirement in June last year and vacated the title in the process, meaning that she would seemingly be granted a title shot if “The Lioness” decided to step back in.

Harrison has spoken about welcoming Nunes back but obviously, her title shot may have to wait if the former champion calls next.

In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Harrison said that she hopes this doesn’t happen, at least until she already has the belt in her hands.

“Yeah I mean, I hope not. I just don’t think she’ll ever fight me so I don’t think that her cutting the line, beating up Peña again and taking another big payday and then leaving, like that would really p*** me off. So I hope that I fight for the title and then if she wants to come cut the line, she’s more than welcome.”

Continue Reading Kayla Harrison On Potential Amanda Nunes Return Stealing Title Shot Away From Her at MMA News.

Who is Kayla Harrison? UFC Star, Olympic Trailblazer, and MMA Champion

Who is Kayla Harrison? Olympic medalist, MMA world champion, and a star in the UFC. She made history by…

Who is Kayla Harrison? Olympic medalist, MMA world champion, and a star in the UFC. She made history by capturing two gold medals in the Olympics representing the USA and then switched to MMA and picked up two titles in the PFL. She now competes in the UFC’s bantamweight division.

Who is Kayla Harrison?

Who is Kayla Harrison? Harrison began practicing judo at the age of six, influenced by her mother, who was a black belt. By 15, she had already won two national championships. However, her early career was marred by trauma; she disclosed that she had been sexually abused by her coach during her teenage years. This led to legal action against the coach and significantly impacted her life and career trajectory.

In an interview, she explained how she now has a foundation that is trying to prevent the same thing from happening to others. In a conversation, she said:

“The Fearless Foundation is for survivors of sexual abuse. I’m a survivor of child sexual abuse myself, and the foundation focuses on two things. First, it’s about mastery—finding something kids can immerse themselves in, like judo, painting, archery, or anything that allows them to feel like kids again. Second, it’s about education. We talk about safe sex and stranger danger, but we don’t talk about what to do if someone close to you tries to take advantage of you.

“Over 75 percent of cases involve someone the child knows—family friends, coaches, neighbors. It’s tough, but we have to be careful and aware.”

Who is Kayla Harrison – Olympian

The trailblazer Kayla Harrison made history in her Olympic run by becoming the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in judo, an incredible feat. She achieved this remarkable feat at the 2012 London Olympics, where she won gold in the -78 kg weight category. Harrison successfully defended her title at the 2016 Rio Olympics, securing her second gold medal in the same weight class.

PFL

Who is Kayla Harrison, the MMA champion? After her impressive Olympic run, Harrison quickly made a name for herself in the Professional Fighters League, where she became a two-time PFL Women’s Lightweight Champion. She holds an impressive MMA record of 17 wins and 1 loss as of October 2024.

Who did Kayla Harrison lose to? Her singular MMA loss is to the Brazilian powerhouse Larissa Pacheco in the PFL.

Kayla Harrison UFC

Harrison signed with the UFC and made her debut against former champion Holly Holm at UFC 300, winning by submission in the second round. As of now, she is ranked #3 in the UFC women’s bantamweight division and #11 in the pound-for-pound rankings.

Harrison is scheduled to fight Ketlen Vieira on October 5, 2024, at UFC 307 in a title eliminator. Brazil’s Viera has a black belt in Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and is expected to be a major test for Harrison.

Why did Kayla Harrison adopt?

In November 2019, Harrison’s mother suffered a stroke. At the time, her mother had custody of Harrison’s niece and nephew. In May 2020, Harrison’s stepfather Bob, who was described as “the rock of the family,” suddenly passed away. He had been taking care of Harrison’s mother and the children. With her mother recovering from a major brain trauma and unable to care for the children, Harrison stepped up. Who is Kayla Harrison? A mother.

Speaking to me, she explained:

“It’s made me a better person, a better fighter, and more complete. Before, my life was very self-absorbed—train, eat, sleep, repeat. Now, my life is full of happiness, even with the stress. It’s the biggest responsibility I’ve ever had, but it’s also the most rewarding.

“There’s no such thing as too much love. My kids—who are my niece and nephew, but I’m adopting them—came from trauma, and I’ve seen firsthand how love and a safe, nurturing environment can transform them.”

Where is Kayla Harrison from?

Who is Kayla Harrison and where is she from? Kayla Harrison is from Middletown, Ohio. She was born there on July 2, 1990, and began her judo training at the age of six, inspired by her mother, who was a black belt in the sport. Although she currently resides in Florida, she proudly represents her Midwestern roots.

Kayla Harrison Brands Henry Cejudo ‘Asinine’ For Breakdown Of Ketlen Vieira Fight

UFC bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison returns this Saturday night at UFC 307 to take on Ketlen Vieira in a huge fight for the division. Harrison has been working hard on her overall MMA game in recent years to make sure that she is able to compete in all areas. Every fight starts on the feet […]

Continue Reading Kayla Harrison Brands Henry Cejudo ‘Asinine’ For Breakdown Of Ketlen Vieira Fight at MMA News.

UFC bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison returns this Saturday night at UFC 307 to take on Ketlen Vieira in a huge fight for the division.

Harrison has been working hard on her overall MMA game in recent years to make sure that she is able to compete in all areas.

Every fight starts on the feet and developing her striking skills was always going to be an important part of her journey in the sport.

Describing it as a process of no longer “faking it till you make it”, the former PFL star is confident in her all-round MMA abilities in comparison with her opponent.

And as a two-time Olympic gold medallist in judo, there aren’t many people on the planet who can compete with her in her area of specialty either.

Kayla Harrison Fires Back At Henry Cejudo Over Fight Prediction

During their preview of the card on a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, former UFC champions Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman predicted the fight between Harrison and Vieira.

Cejudo made the case that with Vieira having some judo pedigree of her own, she might be able to keep the fight standing – where she could be a big problem for Harrison.

This take wasn’t particularly well received by the #3-ranked contender, who gave her response in a recent interview with Submission Radio.

Harrison believes that Cejudo’s point was meaningless due to the huge gap between a judo black belt and one of the all-time greats in the sport.

“I don’t know why the hell they’re talking about a judo black belt making a difference like there are levels. That would be like me telling Henry, ‘Oh this kid wrestling in varsity in high school so you’re gonna struggle to take him down’. Benign. Asinine. That’s all right, I look forward to showing once again why Henry is a jealous little man.”

Continue Reading Kayla Harrison Brands Henry Cejudo ‘Asinine’ For Breakdown Of Ketlen Vieira Fight at MMA News.

UFC Vet ‘Feels Bad’ For Those Sharing A Division With Kayla Harrison: ‘I Don’t Think Anybody Has A Chance’

A longtime UFC fan favorite is high on Kayla Harrison, so much so that he doesn’t see anybody in the bantamweight division being able to beat her. Harrison, a two-time title winner under the PFL banner, will feature on the main card of this weekend’s UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she’s […]

Continue Reading UFC Vet ‘Feels Bad’ For Those Sharing A Division With Kayla Harrison: ‘I Don’t Think Anybody Has A Chance’ at MMA News.

A longtime UFC fan favorite is high on Kayla Harrison, so much so that he doesn’t see anybody in the bantamweight division being able to beat her.

Harrison, a two-time title winner under the PFL banner, will feature on the main card of this weekend’s UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she’s set to make her second outing inside the Octagon.

After establishing herself as a dominant force outside MMA’s leading promotion, Harrison got her pursuit of gold in the UFC underway in strong fashion this past April with a submission win over former champ Holly Holm.

To secure a likely title shot down the line, the 34-year-old former judoka is next tasked with getting the better of #2-ranked contender Ketlen Vieira in the “Beehive State.”

And by the sounds of things, recently retired UFC veteran Matt Brown has little doubt about who will have their hand raised in that matchup…

Brown On Harrison Joining BW Division: ‘If I’m The Champion, I’m Retiring’

During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown discussed Harrison’s successful arrival into the UFC women’s bantamweight division earlier this year.

Having seen the manner with which the Ohio native dispatched Holm, “The Immortal” doesn’t see anybody on the roster at 135 pounds capable of halting Harrison’s charge.

“I feel bad for the girls in that division. If I’m the champion, I’m retiring. If I’m Raquel Pennington or I’m Julianna Peña and I win the fight, I’m out. I’m pulling an Eddie Bravo here. Win the big one and I’m done,” Brown said. “I wasn’t quite as big of a believer until the way I watched her beat Holly Holm. Because I just didn’t know about the weight cut, and how she was going to perform (after) the weight cut, and sometimes people change when they come to the UFC. They’re just not what we thought they were when they were in a different organization.

“I think she answered every question very clearly. She’s going to come in, and I don’t think anybody has a chance against her,” Brown continued. “We’re on the way to the Kayla Harrison era. I think she wrecks everybody in that division, including Amanda if she comes back. I don’t think anybody stands a chance against Kayla. I think she is a major problem for everybody in there. … She is an absolute terror for this division.”

Harrison will look to prove Brown right come fight night in Salt Lake City this weekend, when she shares the card with another “terror” in UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira.

The pair recently got familiar with one another on the mats, with Harrison teaching “Poatan” some judo moves. Her ability to take the Brazilian down is perhaps strong evidence for Brown’s prediction of dominance for the two-time Olympic gold medalist at 135 pounds.

Read More: UFC Superstar Kayla Harrison On The Importance Of Being A Role Model: ‘You’ll Never See Me With DUIs Or Scandals…’

Continue Reading UFC Vet ‘Feels Bad’ For Those Sharing A Division With Kayla Harrison: ‘I Don’t Think Anybody Has A Chance’ at MMA News.

UFC Veteran Warns UFC Bantamweights About Kayla Harrison: ‘Nobody Has a Chance Against Her’

MMA champion and Olympic medalist Kayla Harrison is likely to run through the competition in the UFC says the…

MMA champion and Olympic medalist Kayla Harrison is likely to run through the competition in the UFC says the MMA veteran Matt Brown, ahead of her title eliminator at UFC 307.

Kayla Harrison made history with her Olympic run being one of the first Americans to medal in Judo, in which she successfully captured two gold medals throughout her run. She would later switch to MMA and went on an unbeaten streak in the PFL picking up two world titles in that time. Eventually, she would lose to Brazil’s Larissa Pacheco and then sign with the UFC.

UFC

In her organizational debut, she submitted former UFC champion Holly Holm. Kayla Harrison’s next match is booked for October 5 at UFC 307 against the Brazilian Ketlen Vieira, who will be a stiff test as he has a black belt in Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Kayla Harrison vows to land vicious win in debut at UFC 300 they'll have choice but to give me a title shot — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

Matt Brown on Kayla Harrison

The Immortal’ Matt Brown competed in the UFC from 2008 until his retirement in 2024. He quickly made a name for himself with an aggressive fighting style characterized by powerful striking and resilience. A former drug addict who found recovery in martial arts.

Speaking on Kayla Harrison, Brown said that it’s just a matter of time until she captures UFC gold. In an interview with MMAFighting, he explained:

“I feel bad for the girls in that division. If I’m the champion, I’m retiring. If I’m Raquel Pennington or I’m Julianna Pena and I win the fight, I’m out. I’m pulling an Eddie Bravo here. Win the big one and I’m done.

“I wasn’t quite as big of a believer until the way I watched her beat Holly Holm. Because I just didn’t know about the weight cut, and how she was going to perform [after] the weight cut, and sometimes people change when they come to the UFC. They’re just not what we thought they were when they were in a different organization.

“I think she answered every question very clearly. She’s going to come in, and I don’t think anybody has a chance against her.

“The only question from here on out is how long can she keep doing that weight cut?”

Kayla Harrison Smashes Nina Marie Daniele on the Mats Ahead of UFC 307: “She sat on me.”

Nina Marie Daniele, AKA Nina Drama, and Kayla Harrison spend some time training Judo ahead of UFC 307 in…

Nina Marie Daniele, AKA Nina Drama, and Kayla Harrison spend some time training Judo ahead of UFC 307 in which Harrison will fight in a title eliminator match.

Kayla Harrison

The US-born Kayla Harrison is a trailblazer in the world of Olympic Judo, being one of the first Americans in history to capture two gold medals in the sport. She then transitioned to MMA and picked up two world titles in the PFL thus becoming the face of the organization.

Harrison would later sign with the UFC and was able to submit former champion Holly Holm in her organizational debut. On October 5, she faces a blackbelt in Judo and Jiu Jitsu Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307.

Nina Marie Daniele

Model, social media influencer, and UFC correspondent, Nina Marie Daniele, AKA Nina Drama, is a jack of all trades in the entertainment world. Daniele gained significant recognition in the modeling world when she was named Playboy’s Playmate of the Year in 2018.

Nina has amassed millions of followers on social media, including over 1.4 million on Instagram and approximately 3.7 million on TikTok. She also runs a YouTube channel where she posts vlogs and UFC-related content with various fighters.

Kayla Harrison Nina Drama Nina Marie Daniele 2 — Kayla Harrison and Nina Marie Daniele

Kayla Harrison Smashes Nina Marie Daniele

Nina Marie Daniele spent some time training with the Olympic medalist and MMA world champion ahead of Harrison’s matchup at UFC 307. Nina Drama was thrown multiple times, mounted, armbared, and then grounded and pounded. She said:

Kayla Harrison Nina Drama Nina Marie Daniele — Kayla Harrison and Nina Marie Daniele

“She punched me in the face. She punched me here, she punched me in my piercings. She choked me, and she sat on me.”

Nine was also quite frightened of Kayla, she explained:

“One time, you said to me, “All them boys go easy on you. When I get my hands on you, I’m not going that easy.” That lives rent-free in my head.“

See the full video below: