Kayla Harrison Bio
Kayla Jean Harrison (born July 2, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist and former competitive judoka. She currently competes in the women’s Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is the reigning UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion. She is the first female fighter to win both an Olympic gold medal and a UFC championship. A former two-time Professional Fighters League lightweight champion, she trains out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. As of November 18, 2025, she is ranked number two in the UFC women’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Kayla Harrison Early Life and Background
Kayla Jean Harrison was born in Middletown, Ohio, and raised in the same small industrial city southwest of Dayton. She graduated from Middletown High School. Her mother, a black belt in judo, introduced her to the sport at the age of six, and the discipline quickly became the central focus of her childhood.
She began training under coach Daniel Doyle and won two national junior championships before the age of fifteen. During that same developmental period, Harrison was sexually abused by Doyle, an experience she later disclosed to another judoka, who alerted her mother. The abuse was reported to police, and Doyle was convicted and sentenced to a ten-year prison term.
About a month after the abuse was revealed, Harrison left Ohio to live and train in Boston with Jimmy Pedro and his father. The Pedro family became central to her athletic development, and the move marked the beginning of the structured elite training environment that shaped her future Olympic career.
Kayla Harrison Path to MMA
Kayla Jean Harrison transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2018 after a decorated judo career that included two Olympic gold medals. Her competitive judo record stood at 208 wins and 50 losses, and she was the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in judo, claiming the women’s 78 kg title at London 2012 and repeating at Rio 2016. She was also the 2010 World Judo Champion at 78 kg, the first American to win that title since Jimmy Pedro in 1999.
In 2016, while still competing in judo, she signed with World Series of Fighting as both a commentator and a contracted fighter. Although that initial deal did not result in a fight, it planted the flag for her crossover ambitions. Her MMA debut eventually came at PFL 2 on June 21, 2018, against Brittney Elkin, whom she submitted via first-round armbar.
Harrison joined American Top Team in 2018 and has continued to train under the Florida-based gym throughout her professional career. Her judo credentials, including a sixth-degree black belt awarded in 2016 by the United States Judo Association, gave her a built-in grappling base that shaped her path through professional MMA.
Kayla Harrison Career
Early Career (2018)
Kayla Jean Harrison’s rookie professional season was a three-fight run inside the Professional Fighters League. She opened with a first-round armbar submission of Brittney Elkin at PFL 2, then stopped Jozette Cotton via third-round TKO at PFL 6. She closed the year with a first-round TKO of Moriel Charneski on the PFL 11 main card, finishing every opponent inside the distance.
The three finishes earned her recognition as one of the league’s top newcomers and set the tone for her first full championship run. Training at American Top Team under Jimmy Pedro, she combined her elite judo base with steady improvements in striking and ground-and-pound.
PFL Lightweight Era (2019-2022)
Kayla Jean Harrison captured the inaugural PFL Women’s Lightweight Championship in 2019. After a season that included a unanimous decision over Larissa Pacheco and a first-round key-lock submission of Morgan Frier, she won the tournament final by armbar over Bobbi Jo Dalziel. She then defeated Larissa Pacheco again in the December 31, 2019 final by unanimous decision to claim the title.
The 2020 PFL season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Harrison was granted a contract exemption to compete elsewhere. She made her Invicta FC debut at 145 pounds, defeating Courtney King via second-round TKO at Invicta FC 43 on November 20, 2020. A scheduled Titan FC bout against Jozette Cotton fell through when Cotton was hospitalized during her weight cut.
Harrison returned to PFL in 2021 and ran the table to win her second Women’s Lightweight title. She scored first-round TKO wins over Mariana Morais and Genah Fabian, submitted Cindy Dandois via first-round armbar, and closed the tournament with a second-round armbar of Taylor Guardado in the October 27, 2021 final.
Her 2022 campaign ended in the final, where she lost a unanimous decision to Larissa Pacheco on November 25, 2022. Prior to that loss, she posted a unanimous decision win over Marina Mokhnatkina, a first-round TKO of replacement opponent Kaitlin Young, and a first-round arm-triangle choke of Martina Jindrová in the semifinals.
She returned on November 24, 2023, defeating Aspen Ladd by unanimous decision at a 150-pound catchweight. By that point, PFL had matched a free-agent offer from Bellator MMA, and Harrison re-signed with PFL on a deal scheduled to terminate in December 2023.
UFC Era (2024-Present)
On January 23, 2024, UFC President Dana White announced the signing of Kayla Jean Harrison to the promotion’s bantamweight roster. She debuted at UFC 300 on April 13, 2024, against former champion Holly Holm, finishing the fight via second-round rear-naked choke. The victory marked her first appearance at 135 pounds.
She followed the Holm win with a unanimous decision over Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 on October 5, 2024. On June 7, 2025, at UFC 316, she captured the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship by submitting two-time champion Julianna Peña with a second-round kimura. The performance earned her a UFC Performance of the Night bonus, and Amanda Nunes immediately entered the cage to face off with the new champion.
Style and Strengths
Kayla Jean Harrison fights out of a judo stance and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished grapplers in women’s MMA. Her finishing arsenal leans heavily on submissions and ground-and-pound, with armbars and kimuras appearing repeatedly on her record. Her partnership with Jimmy Pedro and her daily training environment at American Top Team have helped her round out a striking game that now meets the demands of five-round championship fights.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kayla Jean Harrison’s signature achievements include becoming the first American to win Olympic gold in judo at London 2012, repeating at Rio 2016, and capturing the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship at UFC 316. She is the first female fighter to hold both an Olympic gold medal and a UFC title, and she holds the rank of sixth-degree black belt, the youngest American ever to receive it.
Kayla Harrison Career Wins
Kayla Jean Harrison has compiled a verified professional mixed martial arts record of 19 wins and one loss across 20 bouts. Her victories include six by knockout or technical knockout, eight by submission, and one by decision. She has won the PFL Women’s Lightweight Championship in 2019 and 2021 and the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship in 2025.
PFL Lightweight Highlights
Kayla Jean Harrison went 11-1 inside the PFL cage across the 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022 seasons. Her lone defeat came in the 2022 final against Larissa Pacheco. Highlights include first-round finishes of Brittney Elkin, Moriel Charneski, Genah Fabian, and Martina Jindrová, plus tournament-final wins over Bobbi Jo Dalziel, Taylor Guardado, and Larissa Pacheco.
UFC Bantamweight Highlights
Inside the UFC, Kayla Jean Harrison has gone 3-0 since her April 2024 promotional debut. She submitted former champion Holly Holm at UFC 300, decisioned Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307, and finished Julianna Peña with a second-round kimura to claim the bantamweight title at UFC 316.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the PFL and UFC, Kayla Jean Harrison made a one-off appearance inside Invicta FC, stopping Courtney King via second-round TKO at Invicta FC 43 on November 20, 2020. She was also briefly linked to a Titan FC booking against Jozette Cotton, though the bout was cancelled when Cotton was hospitalized during her weight cut.
Kayla Harrison Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kayla Jean Harrison was raised in Middletown, Ohio, by a mother who held a black belt in judo. Her mother’s introduction to the sport shaped her early training and laid the foundation for her career in combat sports.
Personal Life
In 2020, Kayla Jean Harrison took in her niece and nephew after the sudden death of her stepfather, who had been their custodian. She was granted full custody that year and, in 2021, became their legal mother. She resides in Coconut Creek, Florida, where she trains at American Top Team.
2025 Season Performance
Kayla Jean Harrison entered 2025 as a UFC bantamweight contender coming off wins over Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira. Her title shot arrived on June 7, 2025, at UFC 316, where she submitted two-time champion Julianna Peña with a second-round kimura to claim the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship. The win earned her a Performance of the Night bonus and moved her to number two in the UFC women’s pound-for-pound rankings as of November 18, 2025.
Following her title victory, Amanda Nunes returned to the cage to face off with the new champion, setting up a high-profile next chapter. The pairing was later scheduled for January 24, 2026, at UFC 324, although Harrison withdrew from the bout after being diagnosed with herniated discs in her neck that required surgery. The fight is expected to be rescheduled for a later date.
Looking ahead, the title picture at 135 pounds remains centered on Harrison’s recovery and the pending rematch with Nunes. With her judo pedigree, her American Top Team camp, and her Performance of the Night form from UFC 316, she enters the next stage of her reign as one of the most accomplished champions in the sport.
