Kayla Harrison to Make UFC Debut Against Holly Holm at UFC 300 in Bantamweight Bout

In a major revelation via Instagram on Tuesday, UFC President Dana White confirmed that Kayla Harrison, former Olympian and renowned PFL star, has officially joined the UFC. Harrison (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is set to make her promotional debut on April 13 at UFC 300, where she will face off against Holly Holm (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) in a bantamweight clash.

White clarified that the upcoming bout marks Harrison’s move to the bantamweight division, a shift from her previous competitions in the 145-pound to 155-pound range.

The 33-year-old Harrison’s most recent fight took place at the 2023 PFL World Championship in November, securing a unanimous decision victory against Aspen Ladd. This bout was her only appearance in the calendar year, with Harrison choosing to opt-out of the promotion’s season format. Following the match, Harrison hinted that it might have been the final fight of her contract.

Despite speculation that Harrison might have one more fight with PFL, CEO Donn Davis mentioned as recently as Monday that he expected her to honor at least one more bout (via “The MMA Hour”).

Harrison boasts a remarkable record as a two-time PFL women’s lightweight champion, clinching titles in the 2019 and 2021 seasons. Her only career loss occurred in the 2022 PFL season championship against Larissa Pacheco.

Holly Holm, aged 42, is a former women’s bantamweight champion. She participated in two matches in 2023, achieving a 1-0 record with one no contest due to Mayra Bueno Silva’s victory being overturned following a failed drug test for ADHD medication.

The updated UFC 300 card features an impressive lineup: