Kayla Jean Harrison (born July 2, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist and former judoka. She currently competes in the women's Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is the current UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion. She is the first female fighter to win an Olympic gold medal and a UFC championship. She is also a former two-time Professional Fighters League lightweight champion. As of November 18, 2025, she is #2 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.
In judo, Harrison won the women’s 78 kg gold medal in the 2010 World Judo Championships and gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. She remains the only American judoka to have won a gold medal in Judo at the Summer Olympics and one of a rare few to have won a gold medal in the World Judo Championships. In 2016, she was promoted to Rokudan (6th-degree black belt) by the United States Judo Association, becoming the youngest ever to achieve the rank.
After making her MMA debut in 2018, Harrison won the PFL Lightweight World Tournament in 2019 and successfully repeated as champion in 2021. She signed with the UFC in January 2024, defeating former champion Holly Holm in her promotional debut. In June 2025, she captured the UFC Bantamweight Championship via second-round kimura submission of Julianna Peña.
Harrison was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame in 2012, the United States Judo Federation Hall of Fame in 2015, and the International Sports Hall of Fame in March 2023.
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Early life
Born in Middletown, Ohio, Harrison took up judo at the age of six, having been introduced to the sport by her mother, who was a black belt. She graduated from Middletown High School (Ohio).
She began training under coach Daniel Doyle, and won two national championships by the age of 15. During that period, Doyle was sexually abusing Harrison, who reported it to another judoka, who in turn told Harrison's mother. She subsequently reported this to the police. Doyle was convicted and sentenced to a ten-year prison term. A month after the abuse was revealed, she moved away from her home in Ohio to Boston to train with Jimmy Pedro and his father.
Career
Judo
Harrison changed weight classes in 2008, from the –63 kg division to the –78 kg division. She could not compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics as the United States had not qualified in that division. She won the 2008 Junior World Championship that year, and the following year placed second, becoming the first American to compete in two Junior World Championships finals.
Harrison won the gold medal in the –78 kg category at the 2010 World Championships, the first American to do so since 1999 (when her coach, Jimmy Pedro, did so in Birmingham, United Kingdom). At the 2011 World Championships in Paris, she placed third taking the bronze medal. Harrison had lost to the eventual winner, Audrey Tcheuméo of France, in her semi-final.
Prior to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Harrison was injured during training, having torn a medial collateral ligament. On August 2, 2012, she won the Olympic title in the –78 kg category, defeating Gemma Gibbons of Britain by two yukos, to become the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in judo. She earned a second Olympic gold medal in the same weight class in 2016 in Rio, defeating Audrey Tcheuméo of France.
In 2015, Harrison was elected to the United States Judo Federation Hall Of Fame and on August 31, 2016, following her second Olympic gold medal, the United States Judo Association promoted Harrison to rokudan (6th Degree Black Belt) making her the youngest person in the US to ever be awarded this rank.
Mixed martial arts
Harrison, a former training partner of fellow judoka Ronda Rousey, announced in October 2016 that she had signed with World Series of Fighting. While she would initially work as a commentator she also indicated she was contracted to fight, in the women's 145 pounds (66 kg) division.
Harrison made her MMA debut at PFL 2 on June 21, 2018, against Brittney Elkin in the Women's Lightweight division. She won via submission due to an armbar in the first round.
For her second professional fight, Harrison faced Jozette Cotton at PFL 6 on August 16, 2018. She won the fight via TKO in the third round.
Harrison was on the main card for PFL 11 in 2018 and defeated Moriel Charneski via first-round TKO; after her victory, it appeared that she was not completely content with her own performance.
Harrison was expected to headline the first event of PFL's second season against Svetlana Khautova on May 9, 2019. Khautova withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Larissa Pacheco. Harrison won the fight by unanimous decision.
Harrison faced Morgan Frier in the co-main event of PFL 4 on July 11, 2019. She won the fight by key lock submission in the first round. Subsequently, Harrison signed a new long-term contract extension with the PFL.
After becoming second in the preliminary round standing, Harrison secured a position at the playoffs. She was originally scheduled to face number 3 ranked Genah Fabian at PFL 7 on October 11, 2019, but Fabian was forced to pull out of the bout. Fabian was replaced by number 5 Bobbi Jo Dalziel. Harrison would win the fight by an armbar in the first round.
Harrison faced Larissa Pacheco in rematch for the Women's Lightweight final at PFL 10 on December 31, 2019. After dominating every round with her superior grappling, Harrison won the fight by unanimous decision to win the 2019 Women's Lightweight Championship.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On January 23, 2024, Dana White announced that the UFC had signed Harrison and that she would make her promotional debut, as well as her bantamweight debut, against former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm on April 13, 2024, at UFC 300. Harrison won the fight against Holm by a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.
Harrison faced Ketlen Vieira on October 5, 2024 at UFC 307. She won the fight by unanimous decision.
Harrison competed for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship against two-time champion (also The Ultimate Fighter 18 Tournament Winner) Julianna Peña on June 7, 2025 at UFC 316. She won the championship via kimura at the end of the second round. This fight earned her a Performance of the Night award. Immediately following the victory, Amanda Nunes entered the octagon to face-off with Harrison.
Harrison was scheduled to defend her title against former two-time champion Amanda Nunes on January 24, 2026 at UFC 324. However, Harrison withdrew from the bout after being diagnosed with herniated discs in her neck, which required surgery. The fight is expected to be rescheduled for a later date. The bout was reportedly linked to September 19, 2026 at UFC 331 but was once again postponed. The bout is now scheduled to take place on November 14, 2026 at UFC 334.
Personal life
In 2020, Harrison acquired full custody of her niece and nephew, after her stepfather – who had custody of the children at the time – died suddenly. In 2021, Harrison became their legal mother.
Championships and accomplishments
Hall of Fame
Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame – Class of 2012
New York Athletic Club Hall of Fame – Class of 2013
Middletown High School Athletic Hall of Fame – Class of 2013
United States Judo Federation Hall of Fame – Class of 2015
Ohio Judo Hall of Fame – Class of 2020
International Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 2023
Other
Women's Sports Foundation
2012 Wilma Rudolph Courage Award
Glamour Women of the Year Awards
2012 The "Unstoppables" Award
Judo
U.S. Olympic Committee
2012 O.C. Tanner Inspiration Award
Olympic Games
2012 London
2016 Rio de Janeiro
U.S. Olympic Trials
2008 Las Vegas
World Championships
2010 Tokyo
2011 Paris
2014 Chelyabinsk
Pan American Games
2011 Guadalajara
2015 Toronto
Pan American Championships
2010 San Salvador
2011 Guadalajara
2013 San José
2015 Edmonton
2016 Havana
World Masters
2015 Rabat
2016 Guadalajara
IJF Grand Slam
2011 Rio de Janeiro
2011 Tokyo
2012 Paris
2012 Rio de Janeiro
2014 Tyumen
Mixed martial arts
Professional Fighters League
2019 PFL Women's Lightweight Championship
First female to win a PFL title
2021 PFL Women's Lightweight Championship
First female two-time PFL champion
Ultimate Fighting Championship
UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship (One time, Current)
Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Julianna Peña
UFC Honors Awards
2024: Fan's Choice Submission of the Year Nominee vs. Holly Holm & Fan's Choice Debut of the Year Nominee vs. Holly Holm
2025: Fan's Choice Submission of the Year Nominee vs. Julianna Peña
UFC.com Awards
2024: Best Newcomer of the 1HY, Ranked #3 Submission of the Year vs. Holly Holm & Ranked #2 Newcomer of the Year
2025: Ranked #3 Submission of the Year vs. Julianna Peña
Sports Illustrated
2025 Top 50 Most Influential Figures in Sports
World MMA Awards
2020 Nomination – Female Fighter of the Year
2024 Nomination – Female Fighter of the Year
Judo record
Total tournament record: 208 wins and 50 losses.