Kayla Harrison

Kayla Harrison is an American mixed martial artist and former judoka from Middletown, Ohio, born July 2, 1990. She began judo at age six and became a leading U.S. competitor before transitioning to MMA. In judo, Harrison won the 2010 senior world title and captured Olympic gold in the women’s 78 kg division at London 2012 and Rio 2016. Her London medal was the first Olympic judo gold won by an American athlete, male or female.

Harrison is an active UFC women’s bantamweight fighter who trains at American Top Team and is listed at 5-foot-8. Her UFC debut came at UFC 300 in April 2024, when she submitted Holly Holm. After previously winning PFL women’s lightweight championships in 2019 and 2021, Harrison won the UFC women’s bantamweight title on June 7, 2025, submitting Julianna Peña with a second-round kimura. As of September 29, 2026, UFC identifies Harrison as the division’s champion. Her MMA approach is built around elite judo: clinch control, takedowns, positional pressure and submission attacks.