In what sort of felt like a coronation, Kayla Harrison claimed UFC gold in the summer of 2025 to add to her lengthy list of accolades, which includes back-to-back Olympic gold medals in judo. Harrison’s journey to the UFC title started at UFC 300, and she needed just two fights to earn her way to the top spot.
Her win set up what everyone in the mixed martial arts world has wanted for the last several years: a matchup with Amanda Nunes. At UFC 316, Nunes entered the Octagon to faceoff with Harrison, the first time “The Lioness” graced the canvas since laying her two belts down in June 2023.