Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Sports Desk • Judo

Kayla Harrison

Kayla Harrison is an American judoka and mixed martial artist.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Kayla Harrison is an American judoka and mixed martial artist who won Olympic gold in judo in 2012 and 2016, then became a UFC bantamweight champion in 2025.

What it is

Kayla Harrison is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo (women’s 78 kg) and a professional MMA fighter. She is the only American to win Olympic gold in judo and later transitioned to MMA, winning PFL tournament titles in 2019 and 2021 before claiming the UFC women’s bantamweight championship in 2025.

Key details

Born in Middletown, Ohio, in 1990, Harrison began judo as a child. She won the 2010 World Judo Championships and consecutive Olympic golds in 2012 and 2016. She holds a 6th dan black belt in judo. In MMA, she debuted professionally in 2018, won PFL titles, and signed with the UFC in 2024, winning the bantamweight title the following year.

Why it matters

Harrison’s career bridges elite amateur judo and professional MMA, showing a rare dual-sport success. For Canadian readers, her Olympic and world-level achievements connect to international competitions featuring Canadian athletes, and her path highlights the growing crossover between judo and MMA.

In short

  • Two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo (2012, 2016).
  • Only American to win Olympic gold in judo.
  • Won PFL tournament titles in 2019 and 2021.
  • Became UFC bantamweight champion in 2025.
Canadian angle

Harrison’s Olympic and world-level judo success is relevant to Canadian readers because she has competed in major international events that also feature Canadian athletes, and her career illustrates the pathway from elite amateur judo to professional MMA.

Quick questions

Who is Kayla Harrison?
An American judoka and mixed martial artist who won two Olympic gold medals in judo and later a UFC championship.
What Olympic medals did Kayla Harrison win?
She won gold in the women’s 78 kg judo event at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.
When did Kayla Harrison start MMA?
She began her professional MMA career in 2018.

Sources

  1. Olympics.com — https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/kayla-harrison
    Supports: Olympic participation and medals
  2. UFC — https://www.ufc.com/athlete/kayla-harrison
    Supports: MMA record, UFC title, rank, and career timeline
  3. USA Judo — https://www.usajudo.com/profiles/kayla-harrison
    Supports: Hometown and judo profile
  4. JudoInside — https://judoinside.com/judoka/34028/Kayla_Harrison
    Supports: World title, Olympic titles, and judo results
  5. National Museum of American History — https://americanhistory.si.edu/we-belong-here/kayla-harrison
    Supports: Biography and advocacy context