This past weekend at UFC 307, Kayla Harrison secured her 18th career victory, adding another win to her already impressive MMA record of 18-1. Yet, for the two-time Olympic gold medalist and MMA champion, this victory came with mixed emotions. Despite dominating her opponent and leaving the octagon with her hand raised, Harrison openly admitted, "It wasn't the performance I was hoping for."
Harrison's fight was heavily anticipated, as she returned to the UFC after months of preparation, with fans and analysts expecting another explosive showcase of her elite judo skills and MMA evolution. While she won by unanimous decision, she expressed her frustration in the post-fight interview, stating that she felt she hadn’t fully delivered the level of performance she aimed for.
As one of the most decorated athletes in combat sports, Kayla Harrison holds herself to exceptionally high standards, always striving for perfection. Her background in judo—being a two-time Olympic gold medalist—has ingrained a deep sense of discipline, focus, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. She’s a fighter who doesn’t settle for just winning; she wants to perform at her best every time she steps into the cage.
Behind Every Champion, There’s a Process
Harrison’s UFC 307 performance might not have met her own expectations, but it serves as a reminder that even the best fighters have off nights. What separates champions like Kayla from the rest is their ability to learn from these moments, adjust, and come back even stronger. Her honesty and vulnerability in admitting she wasn’t at her best is something that resonates with many athletes across different sports.
What’s Next for Kayla Harrison?
Harrison is expected to fight for the women’s bantamweight title next against Juliana Pena. We expect that to go down in the next six months, but Kayla was asked if she’d hypothetically wait a year.
“I would fight,” she declared. “When you’re the best in the world, you’re the best in the world. It doesn’t matter. I’m the uncrowned queen. If I have the belt, if I don’t have the belt, I’m still the best in the world. So, I’d fight. I don’t care who it is. Fill in the blank. I mean that when I say it. I don’t think that there’s anybody in the world that will beat me.”
At FUJI Sports, we are proud to support athletes like Kayla Harrison. Stay tuned for what’s next in her journey and join us in celebrating her continued success in the octagon!!
*Interview by: Ryan Harknes/ MMA Mania
