Did Kayla Harrison retire from Judo? Revisiting the Olympian’s achievements in the sport

Kayla Harrison is widely recognized as one of the top grapplers in the history of mixed martial arts. The highly respected Olympian has achieved significant triumphs in the MMA world and is determined to carry on this success in the renowned octagon of the UFC.

After a successful stint as the PFL women’s lightweight (155-pound) champion, Harrison recently ended her contract with the organization. In Jan. 2024, it was officially announced that the American fighter had joined the UFC, the top MMA promotion in the world.

Currently, the 33-year-old has been scheduled to make her debut in the UFC. The grappling expert, who was born in Ohio, is set to face off against former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm at the highly anticipated UFC 300 on April 13, 2024. This fight between Holm and Harrison will take place in the bantamweight (135-pound) division, marking the Judoka’s first appearance in this weight class.

As we approach the crucial showdown today, we will briefly review Harrison’s achievements in the world of Judo.

Kayla Harrison’s Dominance in Judo: A Look Back at the Olympian’s Illustrious Career

Ever since she was six years old, Kayla Harrison’s mother has been the one to introduce her to the grappling-centric martial art of Judo. With her natural talent and dedication, Kayla has become one of the most skilled Judokas of all time, leaving her mark in the history books.

With support from her black belt Judoka mother and other coaches, Harrison steadily climbed the ranks in Judo. Her hard work and dedication paid off when she was selected to represent her country in the prestigious Olympic Games for Judo. Throughout her Judo journey, Harrison achieved the remarkable feat of winning two Olympic gold medals.

In the finals of the 78-kilogram category at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Harrison defeated the UK’s Gemma Gibbons and secured her first gold medal. This achievement also marked her as the first American to win a gold medal in Judo.

Additionally, Kayla Harrison earned her second gold medal in Judo at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She defeated France’s Audrey Tcheumeo, adding to her reputation as a renowned Judo athlete and solidifying her role as one of the most respected representatives of the US grappling community.

According to JudoInside, Kayla Harrison has an impressive Judo record of 208 wins and 50 losses. She has achieved numerous titles and accolades in the sport, including medals at the World Juniors Championships, IJF Grand Prix, IJF Grand Slam, World Masters, Pan American Championships, Pan American Games, and the World Championships.

Having been involved in martial arts since her childhood, she held the No. 1 ranking in the 78-kilogram weight class as a senior from 2012 to 2017, as recognized by the IJF. Furthermore, following her victorious gold-medal win at the 2016 Olympics, Harrison declared her retirement from Judo.

Kayla Harrison’s Highly Anticipated UFC Debut Against Holly Holm at UFC 300

Despite saying goodbye to her Judo career, Kayla Harrison remained faithful to her Judo background and successfully transferred her exceptional skill set to the world of MMA. Since her debut in June 2018, Harrison has dominated the women’s MMA scene, primarily competing in events hosted by the PFL.

The talented athlete achieved victory in both the 2019 and 2021 PFL women’s lightweight tournaments, earning her the PFL women’s lightweight championship. However, her only loss in MMA was against Larissa Pacheco in November 2022, a fighter whom Harrison had previously defeated by unanimous decision in both May and December of 2019.

After experiencing her first MMA defeat, Kayla Harrison bounced back and continued her winning streak by defeating former UFC fighter Aspen Ladd via unanimous decision at PFL 10 (2023) in November 2023. With the exception of one featherweight (145-pound) bout and the previously mentioned catchweight match, Harrison has competed exclusively at lightweight in her MMA career.

Despite facing a former UFC champion like Holly Holm, who she will be competing against for the first time in her career in the bantamweight division, many believe this will be a daunting challenge for Harrison.

Harrison (16-1 MMA), a renowned grappler and former training partner of Ronda Rousey, is determined to make a statement against Holm. It is widely believed that defeating the 42-year-old boxing and MMA legend could potentially propel Harrison into the UFC women’s bantamweight world title contention. The outcome of her transition from PFL to the UFC will be eagerly watched to see if she can continue her success or surpass it.