Olympic champion Kayla Harrison is on verge of setting UFC record that will never be matched
Olympic champion Kayla Harrison is on the verge of setting a remarkable UFC record that may never be matched.
The UFC sets up shop in Newark, New Jersey, for the stacked UFC 316 on Saturday, which features not one but two huge title fights.
Merab Dvalishvili rematches Sean O'Malley for the UFC bantamweight title in the main-event as they run it back following their UFC 306 showdown.
In the co-headliner, Julianna Pena puts her UFC women's bantamweight title on the line against Harrison, who competes in her first UFC title fight of her distinguished career.
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Harrison made her name at the Olympics, winning an impressive two gold medals in judo.
She won the first of her two gold medals at the London Games in 2012 before winning a second at the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016.
Harrison will now look to add a UFC championship to her haul of titles.
If she does indeed dethrone Pena of the UFC women's bantamweight title, then the 34-year-old will become the first female Olympic gold medalist to win a UFC belt.
She would become just the second UFC fighter to achieve that feat, with Henry Cejudo reaching the accomplishment after winning the UFC flyweight and UFC bantamweight titles, having won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.
Harrison, meanwhile, has won 18 of her 19 pro MMA bouts, including two UFC victories.
Speaking ahead of UFC 316, she said: "I’m feeling ready, grateful for this opportunity and ready to make the most of it.
"The goal was always to be UFC champion, and I didn’t know how long and winding of a road it would be, but we’re finally here, so I’m excited.
"I had no expectations; the goal was to be so good that they couldn’t ignore me and to get a shot. The sooner the better, but all in God’s time - God’s plan. I believe it’s all working out how it’s supposed to."
Topics: UFC
Nasir Jabbar