Kayla Harrison: Trailblazer in MMA and Title Contender
Image Credit: Agência Brasil Fotografias
Kayla Harrison is already one of the greatest combat sports athletes ever to compete. There was a lot of hype surrounding her UFC debut due to her outstanding tenure in the PFL and her Olympic pedigree. It is safe to say that Harrison lived up to expectations with an impressive win over Holly Holm. She is an imposing athlete and will look to achieve great things inside the UFC Octagon.
The Fantastic Career of Kayla Harrison
Harrison is an athlete who has accomplished a lot throughout her career. The 34-year-old is a two-time Olympic gold medallist in judo, and her skills perfectly translate into the world of MMA. There will always be comparisons between Harrison and Ronda Rousey, who also succeeded in judo. Like Rousey, Harrison has taken the MMA world by storm, having already won titles in the PFL and secured a significant victory over a legend like Holm. The gold medallist has a professional record of 17-1 with 13 finishes, demonstrating her expertise in the sport. Harrison trains at American Top Team, which has produced many sensational fighters such as Dustin Poirier, Robbie Lawler, and Jorge Masvidal. At UFC 307, the American will take on Ketlen Vieira, and the contest winner will likely earn a title shot.
Her Strengths
Harrison has developed into a well-rounded fighter who is comfortable in all aspects of MMA. Of course, her main strength is her grappling, and few competitors are better than Harrison in this area. Furthermore, the Olympian's mentality is second to none, as she demonstrated when bouncing back from her first defeat to Larissa Pacheco with a win over Aspen Ladd. In many cases, when a fighter suffers a loss, their fear subsides, and they improve because there is no longer the pressure to stay undefeated. Harrison is a great fighter, and it will be fascinating to see how far she can go in the UFC.
The Future
As mentioned before, Harrison will take on Vieira in October, and if she wins, a title shot will likely follow. The American would fancy her chances of capturing the belt because, at her best, one could argue there's no one better. Furthermore, there has always been speculation about Harrison facing Amanda Nunes, as they are both all-time greats in combat sports, and it would be intriguing to see how that fight would unfold. Harrison has the potential to become a massive mainstream star in the UFC and will be hoping for many big fights in the future.
Do you love sport? Checkout the rest of Expansive Sports we cover sports like rugby, football, and motorsport. If you fancy it, give us a follow on X, Instagram, and TikTok.