Two-time Olympic judo champion and PFL star Kayla Harrison has signed with the UFC, per Dana White’s surprise announcement earlier this week, and is already set to face a former champion at 135lbs in April on a stacked UFC 300 card in Las Vegas. Given where she trains, the outside noise and criticism of her opposition in recent years, this move felt inevitable. Is the timing right now?
Harrison declares her time is now, after UFC arrival
Kayla Harrison vs. Holly Holm [5]
Women’s bantamweight contest, three-rounds
UFC 300 on April 13, Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena
PFL acquiring Bellator last year means changes aplenty in the MMA space and judging by the UFC landscape as far as women’s weight divisions are concerned, things are as open as they have ever been. Onto the scene, comes Kayla Harrison.
Long-reigning flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko didn’t just lose her title, but now finds herself thrust into a compelling rivalry with Alexa Grasso, while Amanda Nunes’ retirement has left a significant hole across two weight classes as the former double champion departed to spend more time with her family.
Harrison was watching cageside when Nunes suffered a stunning second-round submission loss to Julianna Pena in Dec. 2021, and didn’t mask her frustration that a potential megafight between them had seemingly been scuppered.
As I reported back in August, the Lioness has insisted the burning sense of competition still lingers and a comeback – while unlikely – isn’t impossible.
PFL CEO Peter Murray said Harrison chose not to make a long-anticipated fight against Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg (38) happen and truthfully, Cyborg’s prime years have come and gone. This UFC deal gives Kayla a chance to separate herself from the pack, where there is no dominant entity at 135-145lbs.
Since being starched inside a minute by Nunes back in 2018, Cyborg’s done well to remain relevant elsewhere and would represent Kayla’s new career-best win on an oft-criticised resume but critics would still find ways to pick holes in that scalp too.
As someone who trains alongside several world champions, long-standing contenders and UFC veterans at American Top Team, it always felt like Harrison’s pursuit of ultimate success would one day see her sign with the promotion – even if it took a while, much to the natural frustration of many impatient onlookers.
The same can be said for 21-2 welterweight Michael Venom Page, Michael Chandler (both Bellator) and more besides in recent memory.
The electricity and must-see value makes them easily marketable, though weight restrictions are perhaps Harrison’s biggest concern and she’ll hope it doesn’t lead to diminished performances – cutting down to 135lbs is no easy feat as she ages, especially after almost exclusively competing in PFL’s lightweight (155lb) division.
The beauty of it all is that we just don’t know, and won’t until she gets her feet wet. Overlooking the competition has burned her before – familiar foe Larissa Pacheco inflicting her first professional defeat in Nov. 22 to win the PFL’s lightweight finale.
Decorated former champion Holly Holm might be 42 and similarly in the back half of a Hall of Fame career across two disciplines, but is no stranger to the underdog role and shocked the world nine years ago, spectacularly dethroning Ronda Rousey.
A step slower on her feet and naturally more battle-tested since then, she’s clearly being served up as a marquee name – though count her out at your peril.
UFC 300 card, as it stands
Card subject to change, order TBC
Women’s strawweight title: Zhang Weili (c) vs. Yan Xiaonan [2]
Lightweight: Justin Gaethje [2] vs. Max Holloway [1, featherweight] for BMF title
Lightweight title eliminator: Charles Oliveira [1] vs. Arman Tsarukyan [4]
Light-heavyweight: Jiri Prochazka [2] vs. Aleksandar Rakic [5]
Featherweight: Calvin Kattar [8] vs. Aljamain Sterling [1, bantamweight]
Women’s Bantamweight: Holly Holm [5] vs. Kayla Harrison
Bantamweight: Deiveson Figueiredo [8] vs. Cody Garbrandt
Women’s strawweight: Jessica Andrade [4] vs. Marina Rodriguez [6]
Middleweight: Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage
Featherweight: Sodiq Yusuff [12] vs. Diego Lopes
Lightweight: Bobby Green vs. Jim Miller
Picture source: Getty Images
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