Middletown Kayla Harrison big career move

UFC President Dana White announced Middletown native Kayla Harrison's debut at UFC 300 against former Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm.

UFC president Dana White made a big announcement on Tuesday night, revealing that Middletown native Kayla Harrison will be making her debut in the world's top mixed martial arts promotion on April 13th at UFC 300 in Nevada. Her opponent? None other than former UFC Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm.

In a video posted to social media, White spoke highly of Holm, calling her "one of the baddest women to ever compete in combat sports." He emphasized her extensive experience, having fought some of the toughest competitors in both boxing and MMA. However, there's one opponent she hasn't faced - Kayla Harrison, the only person in US history to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in judo. The UFC has officially signed her, and she's ready to take on the challenge.

Harrison, 33, is no stranger to success, having won Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016 before making the transition to professional MMA. She started in the World Series of Fighting and achieved an impressive 15-0 record, including two championships in the lightweight division, before suffering an upset decision loss to Larissa Pacheco in the 2022 PFL Lightweight Tournament Final.

According to White, Harrison's takedowns and ground and pound are top-notch, and this will be her first time competing at bantamweight. Her most recent fight was a unanimous decision win over Aspen Ladd in November, but that was at a catchweight of 150 pounds, so she may face a significant weight cut for bantamweight (135).

On the other side of the octagon, Holm, 42, boasts a 15-6 MMA record and is best known for being the first person to defeat champion Ronda Rousey in 2015. Before joining the UFC, she had a successful career in boxing, winning world titles in multiple weight classes and earning the title of Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year twice. In 2022, she was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Currently, Harrison ranks 11th in MMAJunkie's world pound-for-pound women's rankings, while Holm holds the No. 6 spot among bantamweights. It's safe to say that this matchup is highly anticipated and promises to be an exciting and intense battle between two incredibly talented fighters.