Vanessa Nakate to Open Giving Black Conference 2026 With Climate Justice Keynote
7 days ago
United States Kayla Harrison is a two-time Olympic Judo gold medalist, a two-time PFL World Champion, and the current UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion, embodying perseverance and strength both in and out of the octagon.
Global Brand Ambassador, partnering with the two-time Olympic gold medalist turned mixed martial artist and philanthropist.
Partnership with the nation's largest personal stem cell bank.
Signed with WSOF as a commentator and brand ambassador, and also to fight MMA.
Partnerships like Celsius, implying endorsement deals with brands to add to her financial stability.
Partnership to host the Kayla Harrison Cup and her company operating the US Nationals starting in 2018.
Kayla Harrison, born on July 2, 1990, in Middletown, Ohio, began her judo training at six years old. She quickly achieved success, winning two national championships by the age of 15. Her early career was marked by personal challenges, including sexual abuse by her coach, which she publicly disclosed at 16. This experience profoundly influenced her commitment to supporting survivors through her philanthropic work. Harrison relocated to Boston to train with Jimmy Pedro and his father, an important turning point in her judo career. She transitioned weight classes in 2008 and became the first American to compete in two Junior World Championships finals, placing second in 2009 after winning in 2008.
Harrison continued to achieve significant milestones in judo, securing the gold medal in the women’s 78 kg category at the 2010 World Judo Championships, making her the first American woman to do so since 1984. She earned bronze at the 2011 World Championships despite an injury. Her Olympic career was historic, with back-to-back gold medals in the –78 kg category at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, a first for an American judoka. In 2016, she was promoted to Rokudan (6th-degree black belt) by the United States Judo Association, becoming the youngest to achieve this rank. In March 2023, Harrison was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.
In October 2016, Harrison transitioned to mixed martial arts (MMA), signing with World Series of Fighting. She later joined the Professional Fighters League (PFL), making her MMA debut at PFL 2 in June 2018. Over her PFL career, she became a two-time PFL Women’s Lightweight Champion, winning titles in 2019 and 2021. After signing with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in January 2024, she made her bantamweight debut at UFC 300 in April 2024, submitting Holly Holm. She defeated Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 in October 2024 and then challenged Julianna Peña for the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship at UFC 316 in June 2025, winning the title via kimura submission in the second round. This victory made her the first female fighter to win both an Olympic gold medal and a UFC championship.
Curious about our offerings or have inquiries? We're eager to assist!
Just complete the form, and we'll respond promptly.
