Kayla Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, is drawing comparisons to Ronda Rousey as she forges her own dominant path in the UFC, with her manager Ali Abdelaziz confident she will soon secure a title shot and possibly surpass Rousey’s legacy.
It was inevitable, wasn’t it? Kayla Harrison being compared to Ronda Rousey as she ventured into MMA. Both share a judo lineage. Rousey snagged a bronze at the Olympics, but Harrison? She outdid her with two golds in consecutive games.
Rousey’s impact on the sport is monumental—she paved the way for women in the UFC. Yet, Harrison might just eclipse her legacy. That’s what Ali Abdelaziz thinks, anyway. He’s been by Harrison’s side long before she even stepped into the cage.
“She’s done things better than Ronda,” Abdelaziz told MMA Fighting. No shade to Ronda, of course. But Kayla’s dominance is something else. The way she dismantles opponents? Unmatched.
In her UFC debut, Harrison made quick work of Holly Holm—a name that once toppled Rousey herself. A rear-naked choke in round two at UFC 300 sealed the deal.
Despite comparisons, Harrison’s carving her own path in the UFC. Her style, honed in the PFL, has seamlessly transitioned between promotions.
Abdelaziz sees echoes of Khabib and Makhachev in Harrison’s dominance. “She smothers people,” he says, “creates chaos.” And let’s be real—Kayla’s never been in a dull fight.
She makes opponents question their careers. “Anybody Kayla fights will rethink their career,” Abdelaziz claims. Bold words, but Saturday night could prove him right.
A win against Ketlen Vieira this weekend could set up a title shot for Harrison. The victor of Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Peña might just face her next.
Sure, there was chatter about an immediate title shot post-Holm victory. But promises were made to Julianna Peña, and the UFC keeps its word.
“Kayla needs to smash everybody,” Abdelaziz insists. He believes she’s the best female fighter across any division.
Whether it’s Pennington or Peña doesn’t faze Harrison or her manager much. A title seems destined for her waist soon enough.
“If the champ wants to retire instead of facing her, I get it,” Abdelaziz chuckles. “I wouldn’t want to fight Kayla either.”