Kayla Harrison facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kayla Harrison
Harrison in 2025
Born	Kayla Jean Harrison (1990-07-02) July 2, 1990 (age 35) Middletown, Ohio, U.S.
Height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight	135 lb (61 kg)
Division	Bantamweight (2024–present) Featherweight (2020, 2023) Lightweight (2018–2022)
Reach	66 in (168 cm)
Style	Judo
Fighting out of	Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S.
Team	American Top Team (2018–present)
Trainer	Jimmy Pedro
Rank	6th dan black belt in Judo under Jimmy Pedro
Years active	2018–present (MMA)
Mixed martial arts record
Total	20
Wins	19
By knockout	6
By submission	8
By decision	5
Losses	1
By decision	1
Notable club(s)	NYAC USA Judo National Team FORCE
Kayla Harrison Personal information Born {{#property:P569}} Died Not recognized as a date. Years must have 4 digits (use leading zeros for years < 1000). (aged Error: Need valid year, month, day) Occupation Judoka Sport Sport Judo Rank      6th dan black belt Achievements and titles World finals (2010) Regional finals (2011, 2016) Olympic finals (2012, 2016) Medal record Women's judo Representing  United States Olympic Games Gold 2012 London ‍–‍78 kg Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro ‍–‍78 kg World Championships Gold 2010 Tokyo ‍–‍78 kg Bronze 2011 Paris ‍–‍78 kg Bronze 2014 Chelyabinsk ‍–‍78 kg Pan American Games Gold 2011 Guadalajara ‍–‍78 kg Gold 2015 Toronto ‍–‍78 kg Pan American Championships Gold 2011 Guadalajara ‍–‍78 kg Gold 2016 Havana ‍–‍78 kg Silver 2015 Edmonton ‍–‍78 kg Bronze 2010 San Salvador ‍–‍78 kg Bronze 2013 San José ‍–‍70 kg World Masters Gold 2015 Rabat ‍–‍78 kg Gold 2016 Guadalajara ‍–‍78 kg IJF Grand Slam Gold 2012 Rio de Janeiro ‍–‍78 kg Gold 2014 Tokyo ‍–‍78 kg Gold 2015 Tokyo ‍–‍78 kg Silver 2011 Rio de Janeiro ‍–‍78 kg Silver 2011 Tokyo ‍–‍78 kg Silver 2012 Paris ‍–‍78 kg Silver 2014 Tyumen ‍–‍78 kg Silver 2016 Paris ‍–‍78 kg Bronze 2015 Baku ‍–‍78 kg IJF Grand Prix Gold 2010 Abu Dhabi ‍–‍78 kg Gold 2011 Qingdao ‍–‍78 kg Gold 2012 Düsseldorf ‍–‍78 kg Gold 2014 Havana ‍–‍78 kg Gold 2015 Düsseldorf ‍–‍78 kg Gold 2015 Tbilisi ‍–‍78 kg Gold 2015 Budapest ‍–‍78 kg Gold 2016 Budapest ‍–‍78 kg Silver 2015 Jeju ‍–‍78 kg Bronze 2010 Düsseldorf ‍–‍78 kg Bronze 2010 Rotterdam ‍–‍78 kg Bronze 2014 Jeju ‍–‍78 kg Bronze 2015 Qingdao ‍–‍78 kg Bronze 2016 Havana ‍–‍78 kg World Juniors Championships Gold 2008 Bangkok ‍–‍78 kg Silver 2009 Paris ‍–‍78 kg

Kayla Jean Harrison (born July 2, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist (MMA) and a former judoka, a person who practices judo. She competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is the current UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion.

Harrison is famous for being the first female fighter to win both an Olympic gold medal and a UFC championship. Before her UFC career, she was a two-time champion in the Professional Fighters League (PFL). She is also the only American judoka to win a gold medal at both the Olympics and the World Judo Championships.

Early Life and Judo Beginnings

Kayla Harrison was born in Middletown, Ohio. She started learning judo when she was six years old. Her mother, who was a black belt in judo, introduced her to the sport. By the time she was 15, Harrison had already won two national championships.

During her early training, she faced a very difficult and harmful situation with her coach. After this was reported, she moved from Ohio to Boston to train with a new coach, Jimmy Pedro. This move was a big step in her journey to becoming a world-class athlete.

An Amazing Judo Career

In 2008, Harrison won the Junior World Championship. The next year, she came in second place. This made her the first American to compete in two Junior World Championship finals.

World and Olympic Champion

In 2010, Harrison won the gold medal at the World Championships. She was the first American to win this title since 1999.

Her biggest moments in judo came at the Olympics. At the 2012 London Olympics, she won the gold medal, becoming the first American ever to do so in judo. Four years later, at the 2016 Rio Olympics, she did it again, winning her second Olympic gold medal.

Because of her incredible success, she was promoted to a 6th-degree black belt in 2016, making her the youngest person in the U.S. to reach that high rank.

Switching to Mixed Martial Arts

After her success in judo, Harrison decided to start a new career in mixed martial arts (MMA). In 2016, she signed with the World Series of Fighting, which later became the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

Success in the PFL

Harrison made her MMA debut in 2018 and quickly showed she was a powerful new force in the sport. She won her first fight by submission, using a move called an armbar. She continued to win, and in 2019, she competed in the PFL's first season for women.

She won the 2019 PFL Women's Lightweight Championship by defeating Larissa Pacheco. After the 2020 PFL season was canceled, Harrison fought once in another promotion called Invicta FC and won.

In 2021, she returned to the PFL and had another perfect season. She won the 2021 PFL Women's Lightweight Championship, earning her second major title and a $1 million prize.

In 2022, Harrison had her first professional loss in a close fight against Larissa Pacheco in the PFL finals. After one more win in the PFL in 2023, she was ready for a new challenge.

Joining the UFC

In January 2024, it was announced that Harrison had signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world's biggest MMA organization. She moved to a new weight class, bantamweight, which meant she had to weigh in at 135 pounds.

Her first UFC fight was at the huge UFC 300 event in April 2024. She faced former champion Holly Holm and won in an impressive way with a submission in the second round. She won her next fight in October 2024 against Ketlen Vieira.

Becoming UFC Champion

On June 7, 2025, Harrison fought Julianna Peña for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship at UFC 316. She won the fight and the championship with a submission called a kimura. This victory made her the first athlete to win both an Olympic gold medal and a UFC title. For her amazing performance, she also earned a Performance of the Night award.

Personal Life

In 2020, Harrison took on the responsibility of caring for her niece and nephew, gaining full custody of them after a family tragedy.

Championships and Accomplishments

Harrison has won many awards and championships in both judo and MMA.

• Judo
  • Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist (2012, 2016)
  • World Champion (2010)
  • Pan American Games Gold Medalist (2011, 2015)

• Mixed Martial Arts
  • UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion (Current)
  • Two-time Professional Fighters League Lightweight Champion (2019, 2021)
  • Many "Fighter of the Year" awards from different sports media outlets.

See also

In Spanish: Kayla Harrison para niños

• List of current UFC fighters
• List of female mixed martial artists
• List of Professional Fighters League champions
• List of UFC champions
• List of world champions in judo
• List of Olympic medalists in judo