Kayla Harrison is a dominant force in MMA, the current UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, and a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist. She’s got an incredible 19-1 record, blending grappling mastery with knockout power.
Kayla Harrison’s Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Kayla Jean Harrison |
| Nickname | The Queen of Sprawl |
| Date of Birth | July 2, 1990 |
| Age | 35 years |
| Birthplace | Middletown, Ohio, USA |
| Religion | N/A |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5’8″ (173 cm) |
| Weight Class | Bantamweight (135 lbs / 61 kg) |
| Reach | N/A |
| Team | American Top Team (ATT) |
| Professional Debut | June 21, 2018 (vs. Brittney Elkin, PFL 2) |
| Current Ranking | UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion; #2 UFC women’s P4P |
| MMA Record | 19-1-0 (6 KO/TKO, 8 SUB, 5 DEC) |
| Net Worth | ~$2-3 million |
| Marital Status | Not married |
| Spouse | Single |
| Children | N/A |
| Instagram Profile | @kaylaharrisonofficial |
Kayla trains at American Top Team in Florida, where she’s built her UFC dominance. She’s openly shared her journey as a mom to her niece and nephew after family hardships. Her social media mixes fight hype, family moments, and motivation.
Early Career
Kayla started judo at age six in Middletown, Ohio, inspired by her black belt mom. By 15, she was a two-time national champ but faced abuse from coach Daniel Doyle, who got 10 years in prison.
She moved to train with Jimmy Pedro in Boston, winning 2010 World Championships gold, then Olympic golds in 2012 London and 2016 Rio—the first American to do so. Youngest U.S. rokudan black belt at 26. (62 words)
Professional Career
Harrison jumped into MMA pro in 2018 with PFL, racking quick wins like armbars and TKOs. She claimed 2019 and 2021 PFL Lightweight Tournaments, beating Larissa Pacheco twice for million-dollar prizes. Her only loss came in 2022 PFL final to Pacheco by decision.
Signed with UFC in 2024, she submitted Holly Holm at UFC 300, beat Ketlen Vieira, then snagged the Bantamweight title via kimura over Julianna Peña at UFC 316 in June 2025. Recent neck surgery delayed her Amanda Nunes defense, but she’s recovering fast.
Kayla Harrison’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Kayla’s net worth sits around $2-3 million. This comes mostly from PFL tournament wins (over $2 million in purses), UFC title fight pay, and growing endorsements. Post-title win and surgery recovery, expect it to climb with her champ status and Nunes hype.
Fight Purses
| Fight/Event | Purse (Reported/Est.) |
| vs. Kaitlin Young (PFL 6, 2022) | $500,000 (show money) |
| PFL 2019 Tournament Win | $1,000,000 (total) |
| PFL 2021 Tournament Win | $1,000,000 (total) |
| UFC Debut vs. Holly Holm (UFC 300, 2024) | $250,000+ (est.) |
| vs. Julianna Peña (UFC 316, 2025 Title) | $750,000+ (est. w/ PPV) |
Career Earnings
| Period/Source | Total Earnings (Est.) |
| PFL Career (2018-2023) | $2.3+ million |
| UFC Fights (2024-2025) | $1.5+ million |
| Overall MMA (to 2026) | $4+ million |
| Bonuses/POTN (UFC) | $100,000+ |
Endorsements
Kayla partners with big names like Reebok for gear, Bose for audio during training, and DraftKings for betting promos from her PFL days. She reps Anheuser-Busch and pushes women’s sports via Socios.com fan tokens. Post-UFC title, brands eye her Olympic cred—expect more like Nike or protein lines as she heals from neck surgery and preps for Nunes.
Achievements
| Year | Achievement |
| 2012 | Olympic Gold (Judo -78kg) |
| 2016 | Olympic Gold (Judo -78kg) |
| 2019 | PFL Women’s Lightweight Champion |
| 2021 | PFL Women’s Lightweight Champion |
| 2025 | UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion |
| 2016 | Youngest U.S. Rokudan Black Belt |
| 2025 | UFC Performance of the Night (vs. Peña) |
Fight Record
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Event | Notes |
| Jun 7, 2025 | Julianna Peña | Win | Sub (Kimura) R2 4:55 | UFC 316 | Won UFC Title; POTN |
| Oct 5, 2024 | Ketlen Vieira | Win | UD 3 | UFC 307 | – |
| Apr 13, 2024 | Holly Holm | Win | Sub (RNC) R2 1:47 | UFC 300 | UFC Debut |
| Nov 24, 2023 | Aspen Ladd | Win | UD 3 | PFL 2023 Champs | Catchweight 150lbs |
| Nov 25, 2022 | Larissa Pacheco | Loss | UD 5 | PFL 2022 Final | Only Loss |
| Dec 31, 2019 | Larissa Pacheco | Win | UD 5 | PFL 2019 Final | 1st PFL Title |
FAQs
1. Who is Kayla Harrison?
Kayla Harrison is an American professional MMA fighter and former Olympic judoka. She is the current UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion and the first woman to win both an Olympic gold medal and a UFC title.
2. What is her judo background?
Harrison won gold medals at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics in the –78 kg category. She also claimed the 2010 World Judo Championship gold and holds a 6th-degree black belt.
3. When did she start MMA?
Harrison made her professional MMA debut in June 2018 at PFL 2, submitting Brittney Elkin via armbar in the first round.
4. What is her MMA record?
She has a 19-1 professional record with 6 TKOs, 8 submissions, and 5 decisions. Her only loss was a unanimous decision to Larissa Pacheco in the 2022 PFL final.
5. What are her PFL achievements?
Harrison won the PFL Women’s Lightweight Tournament in 2019 and 2021, defeating Larissa Pacheco in both finals by decision.
6. What is her UFC record?
In the UFC, she is 3-0: submitted Holly Holm at UFC 300, decisioned Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307, and submitted Julianna Peña for the bantamweight title at UFC 316.
7. How did she win the UFC title?
Harrison captured the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship by kimura submission against Julianna Peña in round 2 at UFC 316 on June 7, 2025, earning Performance of the Night.
8. What are her physical stats?
Harrison stands 5’8″ tall, weighs around 135 lbs, and was born July 2, 1990, making her 35 years old.
9. Has she faced any notable rivals?
She fought Larissa Pacheco three times, winning twice by decision before losing the trilogy. Upcoming fights may include Amanda Nunes after a postponed title defense.
10. What personal causes does she support?
Harrison founded the Fearless Foundation in 2013 to help survivors of sexual abuse, drawing from her own experience as a victim of her childhood coach. She legally adopted her niece and nephew in 2021.