What happens when a fighter earns both Olympic and UFC gold? Well, Henry Cejudo has made history by doing just that. He won Olympic wrestling gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics and later shocked the MMA world by defeating Demetrious Johnson at UFC 227 to claim the flyweight title. He then cemented his legacy as one of the greats by adding the bantamweight belt and becoming a two-division champ. Following his path, Kayla Harrison also joined the rare list of Olympians who transitioned into UFC champions.
Harrison’s fighting career has reached massive heights. She became the first woman to win gold in the 78 kg division at the 2010 World Judo Championships, followed by Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016. After switching to MMA, she again found glory, capturing titles in both the PFL and UFC. But what if she had to choose between them? Interestingly, Kayla Harrison revealed which achievement she believes truly helped her rise in popularity and stand out in the combat sports world.
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Kayla Harrison reveals how winning the UFC gold was a special experience
In an MMA Junkie interview, Harrison said, “It’s been different, I will say that. It’s one of the things that I’ve been super blessed with to have had success in other areas and other arenas of my life. So, I kind of had an idea. But, you know, winning a gold medal in judo in the United States is like, I don’t know, there are 12 people who saw it. So, having this kind of success on such a huge platform, nationally and globally, has been. I’m glad that I had the journey that I had to prepare. But I can see how it can be overwhelming. And I’m overwhelmed.”
The UFC embarked on its journey in 1993 with fighters of all sizes competing against each other. But then came UFC 12, and it introduced weight classes: heavyweight, for fighters 200 pounds and above, and lightweight, for those 199 pounds and under. And as of now, there are 12 weight divisions in the UFC — eight for men, four for women. And some of its champions are Tom Aspinall and Magomed Ankaleav, among others. The reigning women’s bantamweight champion on that list is Kayla Harrison, who believes that lifting the UFC gold is truly one of the best moments of her life. Choosing between her achievements has always been a tough decision.
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The first female fighter to win an Olympic gold medal and a UFC championship added, “I think it’s hard to compare. I mean, I think it’s hard to compare because of who I am. Like, there’s been so many different versions of me along the journey. From my first Olympic gold medal, second to my first PFL title, then the next, like, to now. But it was definitely special. You know, it was very surreal.”
Kayla Harrison claimed UFC gold after defeating Julianna Peña at UFC 316 this past June. While it may seem like she’s already achieved it all, another stern challenge looms on the horizon. A potential rematch with Amanda Nunes could be next, and she has also provided a small update on that front.
Kayla Harrison reveals her plans for Amanda Nunes’ fight
When the former Judoka dethroned Peña at UFC 316 to become champion, most fans already knew what might be next. Amanda Nunes was standing just outside the cage, waiting for the callout—and she got exactly that. The two shared a respectful but electric face-off inside the Octagon, cementing the possibility of their long-awaited showdown. But so far, there hasn’t been any real sign that the UFC is ready to move forward with the fight.
Harrison recently revealed that if there’s no news from her legendary opponent’s side, she might decide to move on. Speaking to MMA Junkie, she explained, “That’s what I was told. I have had the conversations with the coaches, like, ‘How long do we wait before?’ And I have an idea on my mind, if I don’t have any news by this time, then I’m just gonna. Because it’s also not fair to the division, you know, I wanna be conscientious of being the champion and being respectful of other fighters. We all have a very short window.”
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It’s a thoughtful approach from Harrison, who seems just as focused on the division as she is on her next big opponent. Right now, names like Norma Dumont and Macy Chiasson are working their way into title contention, and the UFC could easily look to set up another big fight for Harrison before the Paramount+ CBS broadcast deal kicks in next year.
With that being said, has Kayla Harrison already earned her spot among the best female fighters in UFC history? Or does she still need that legacy-defining win over Amanda Nunes to cement her status? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.