Kayla Harrison’s signing with the UFC took many by surprise, but the two-time PFL champ and two-time Olympic gold medal winner will make her promotional debut at UFC 300 in April.
After Dana White made the surprise announcement of Harrison vs. Holly Holm earlier this week, Kayla herself has now made her first comments since becoming a UFC fighter.
“When I started competing, my goal was to be the best… the Olympic champion of MMA. The UFC presents me with the opportunity to be just that,” Harrison wrote on social media recently. “It’s been an amazing journey to reach this point, and I’m grateful for every step along the path. The highs and lows have all shaped me and made me an even better version of myself. God’s timing is perfect, and I am sure of one thing: My time is now. Let’s goooooo!”
Harrison (16-1) won the 2019 and 2021 PFL women’s lightweight tournaments (the Professional Fighters League did not hold a season in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic), and was the runner-up in 2022, losing in the final to Larissa Pacheco.
The 33-year old has never fought as a bantamweight, with her lowest weight being a featherweight fight in Invicta FC while on loan from the PFL — but she’ll drop to 135 to face Holm at UFC 300.
