Kayla Harrison is lastly a UFC fighter.
On Tuesday, UFC CEO Dana White introduced that the two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka and two-time PFL champion has signed an unique deal to hitch the UFC roster, the place she’s going to compete as a bantamweight.
Her first project will come in opposition to former bantamweight champion Holly Holm at UFC 300, which takes place on April 13 on the T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas.
It’s a shocking flip of occasions for Harrison, who spent her total MMA profession with the PFL however just lately hit free company on the finish of her contract. PFL made makes an attempt to maintain Harrison on the roster however finally the 33-year-old Ohio native determined to maneuver to the UFC.
Throughout her profession, Harrison has posted a powerful 16-1 report along with her solely loss coming in a call to Larissa Pacheco in 2022. Outdoors of that lone setback, Harrison has been good, together with two prior wins over Pacheco in addition to a current victory over UFC veteran Aspen Ladd.
Now she’ll make the transfer all the way down to bantamweight after spending her total profession competing at both light-weight or featherweight. Harrison beforehand mentioned the potential transfer with MMA Preventing when contemplated her future within the sport.
“I imply, 135 will problem me in methods, like I’m going to should lose a bit of me to have the ability to combat at 135 kilos,” Harrison stated this previous November. “I feel simply structurally, I carry a variety of muscle. I’m already type of lean, so I’m going to should lose muscle. I’m going to have to alter my total way of life. I imply, I’ve already completed that to combat at 145.
“It’s loopy what occurs if you deal with your physique and eat correctly and sleep and recuperate. I used to be a knucklehead once I was youthful. However I’ve religion no matter is supposed to be, will probably be.”
In her bantamweight debut, Harrison clashes with Holm, a former 135-pound champion and stalwart close to the highest of the rankings within the UFC. Holm has gone 3-1 with one no contest in her previous 5 outings, together with wins over Irene Aldana, Yana Santos, and new UFC bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington.
Harrison vs. Holm is the most recent addition to the rising UFC 300 card, which stays with out a most important occasion presently.
