Kayla Harrison stands as one of the most decorated athletes in combat sports, making waves as a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist and a dominant MMA fighter. Her journey from overcoming personal trauma to becoming a world champion in two sports is nothing short of inspiring. Here’s everything you need to know about Kayla Harrison—her personal life, career, fight purses, endorsements, records, and more.
Kayla Harrison’s Biography
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Kayla Jean Harrison |
| Nickname | Doug |
| Date of Birth | July 2, 1990 |
| Age | 34 years |
| Place of Birth | Middletown, Ohio, USA |
| College | N/A |
| Religion | Christian |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Turned Pro | 2018 |
| Net Worth | $1 million – $1.5 million |
| Salary | Over $2.3 million career earnings (MMA) |
| Spouse | Married (name not publicly disclosed) |
| Relationship | Openly married; keeps details private |
| Children | Adoptive mother to niece Kyla and nephew Emery |
| @judokayla |
Early Career
Kayla Harrison began practicing judo at age six, quickly excelling as a junior. By her teens, she had already won multiple national titles and became one of the top junior judokas in the United States. Her early promise was realized when she won the Junior World Championships in 2008 and a silver the following year. Despite facing severe personal trauma as a teenager, she persevered, moving to Massachusetts to train with the Pedros, who became her mentors and surrogate family.
Professional Career
After becoming the first American to win Olympic gold in judo at London 2012—and repeating the feat in Rio 2016—Harrison transitioned to MMA in 2018. She joined the Professional Fighters League (PFL), dominating the lightweight division and winning two PFL championships. In 2024, she signed an exclusive contract with the UFC, debuting with a submission win over Holly Holm at UFC 300. Harrison then defeated Ketlen Vieira and captured the UFC bantamweight title with a second-round submission over Julianna Peña at UFC 316. Her relentless grappling, honed through years of elite judo, has made her a formidable force in every promotion she’s entered.
Spouse
Kayla Harrison is openly married to her wife, who has been a pillar of support throughout her career. While Harrison keeps her spouse’s identity private, she occasionally shares glimpses of her family life on social media. Harrison does not have biological children but is the legal adoptive mother of her niece, Kyla, and nephew, Emery. She took custody of them following family tragedies, and they are now central to her life and motivation.
Kayla Harrison’s Net Worth Details
As of 2025, Kayla Harrison’s net worth is estimated between $1 million and $1.5 million. Most of her wealth comes from her MMA career, including PFL tournament wins, UFC purses, and sponsorships. She has earned over $2.3 million in fight purses alone, not counting endorsements and merchandise sales.
Fight Purses
| Event & Opponent | Promotion | Year | Reported Purse |
| UFC 316 vs. Julianna Peña | UFC | 2025 | $550,000 – $800,000 |
| UFC 307 vs. Ketlen Vieira | UFC | 2024 | $175,000 |
| UFC 300 vs. Holly Holm | UFC | 2024 | Not publicly disclosed |
| PFL Championships | PFL | 2019, 2021 | $1,000,000 each |
| PFL (other fights) | PFL | 2018–2023 | $2.3 million (career) |
Endorsements
- Fuji Sports
- Celsius Energy
- Venum
- Throne Health
- Monster Energy
- Personal merchandise line
Career Records
| Date | Opponent | Promotion | Result | Method | Event |
| 2025-06-07 | Julianna Peña | UFC | Win (Submission) | Sub (2nd round) | UFC 316 |
| 2024-10-05 | Ketlen Vieira | UFC | Win (Decision) | Unanimous | UFC 307 |
| 2024-04-13 | Holly Holm | UFC | Win (Submission) | Sub (2nd round) | UFC 300 |
| 2023-11-24 | Aspen Ladd | PFL | Win (Decision) | Unanimous | PFL 10 |
| 2022-11-25 | Larissa Pacheco | PFL | Loss (Decision) | Unanimous | PFL 2022 #10 |
| 2021-10-27 | Taylor Guardado | PFL | Win (Submission) | Sub (2nd round) | PFL 2021 #10 |
| 2019-12-31 | Larissa Pacheco | PFL | Win (Decision) | Unanimous | PFL 2019 #10 |
FAQs
1. Who is Kayla Harrison?
Kayla Harrison is an American professional mixed martial artist and former judoka. She is the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in judo and currently competes in the UFC’s women’s bantamweight division, where she is the reigning champion.
2. What are Kayla Harrison’s major achievements in judo?
Harrison won gold medals in the women’s 78 kg judo event at both the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2010 World Judo Championships. She is the only American to have won Olympic gold in judo.
3. What is Kayla Harrison’s MMA record?
Kayla Harrison has a professional MMA record of 18 wins and 1 loss.
4. Which promotions has Kayla Harrison competed in?
She has fought in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), Invicta FC, and currently competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
5. When did Kayla Harrison make her UFC debut and against whom?
Harrison made her UFC debut on April 13, 2024, at UFC 300, defeating former champion Holly Holm by submission in the second round.
6. What weight classes has Kayla Harrison fought in?
She has competed in lightweight (155 lbs) in PFL, featherweight (145 lbs) in Invicta FC and PFL, and currently fights at bantamweight (135 lbs) in the UFC.
7. What is Kayla Harrison’s fighting style and background?
Her primary fighting style is judo, and she holds a sixth-degree black belt. She is known for her grappling and submission skills.
8. Where is Kayla Harrison from and where does she train?
She was born in Middletown, Ohio, and currently trains at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida.
9. What notable championships has Kayla Harrison won in MMA?
She is a two-time PFL Women’s Lightweight World Champion (2019, 2021) and the current UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion.
10. Who are some of Kayla Harrison’s most notable MMA opponents?
Her notable opponents include Larissa Pacheco, Aspen Ladd, Holly Holm, Ketlen Vieira, and Julianna Pena.