After years of anticipation, Kayla Harrison has officially joined the UFC roster.
The UFC has inked a deal with the Olympic gold medalist, who made the transition from judo to the Professional Fighters League and is set to make her debut against Holly Holm at UFC 300 on April 13, as announced by Dana White on Tuesday.
Harrison has long been considered one of the top female fighters in the world outside of the UFC. She made history as the only American to win Olympic gold in judo, achieving the feat in the 78 kg category in both 2012 and 2016. Following her Olympic success, she ventured into professional MMA and quickly rose to prominence in the PFL.
During her time with the PFL, Harrison amassed a remarkable 15-fight undefeated streak, capturing two lightweight titles along the way. While she suffered her first professional loss in a 2022 title fight, she bounced back in 2023 with a victory over former UFC fighter Aspen Ladd.
For her UFC debut, Harrison will be dropping down to bantamweight to face Holm, a move necessitated by the apparent dissolution of the women’s featherweight division following Amanda Nunes’ retirement. Harrison previously competed at featherweight, securing a win over Courtney King in her sole Invicta appearance.
The showdown between Harrison and Holm carries significant implications for the bantamweight division, which recently saw Raquel Pennington claim the title. While Pennington is expected to face Julianna Peña next, a victory over Holm could position Harrison as a strong contender for a future title shot.
Exciting Additions to UFC 300
The addition of Harrison to the UFC 300 card further elevates an already stacked lineup. In addition to the highly anticipated Harrison-Holm bout, fans can look forward to:
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Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan (women’s strawweight)
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Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway (lightweight)
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Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight)
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Jiří Procházka vs. Aleksandar Rakić (light heavyweight)
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Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt (bantamweight)
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Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling (featherweight)
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Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage (middleweight)
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Jim Miller vs. Bobby Green (lightweight)
The star-studded card features a lineup of current and former UFC champions, as well as rising talents in the sport. Zhang will defend her title against Yan in a historic matchup, while Gaethje puts his “BMF” title on the line in his fight. With a diverse range of matchups, UFC 300 promises to be an unforgettable event for fight fans.