Kayla Harrison is to be feared, and he or she did not want all three rounds of her UFC debut to show that time.
The 33-year-old Ohio native submitted UFC legend Holly Holm with a rear bare choke within the second spherical of their bantamweight bout throughout UFC 300 at T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas on Saturday. Harrison walked away from the struggle with nary a scratch, claiming that she’ll be a UFC champion by the top of the 12 months.
Harrison started coaching in judo at 6 years previous, happening to turn into the primary American to ever win an Olympic gold medal within the sport in 2012. She added one other gold to her assortment in 2016. The 42-year-old Holm, a former UFC bantamweight champion, is healthier identified for her hanging.
Holm defeated Olympic bronze-winning judoka Ronda Rousey in 2015, stunning the world by knocking out the then-bantamweight champion with a brutal kick within the second spherical. It is thought to be one of many biggest upsets in UFC historical past.
Regardless that that was 9 years in the past, Holm entered Saturday’s struggle with the identical stage of confidence. She discovered herself grappling on the canvas twice within the first spherical, reversing a takedown try by Harrison within the first 30 seconds. Holm then discovered herself on the opposite finish of a vicious floor and pound earlier than the primary spherical ended, the worst potential unfolding of occasions towards an opponent like Harrison.
Holm’s eyes have been swelling earlier than the second spherical started. She’d landed just one vital strike within the earlier 5 minutes, in comparison with Harrison’s 46. When Holm tapped out on the 1:47 mark within the second spherical, it appeared like a merciful finish to a conflict that wasn’t going her means at any level.
Talking with Joe Rogan instantly after the victory, Harrison demanded a championship struggle.
“I would like my title subsequent, Joe,” she stated. “That is what I came to visit right here for, one factor and one factor solely. So I do not care if it is Raquel [Pennington], I do not care if it is Julianna [Peña], by the top of the 12 months, I will probably be UFC champion.”
She did not title Amanda Nunes, however the GOAT nonetheless answered. She posted a video of herself listening to the decision out and yelling as soon as it ended.
Nunes wrote, “Chama,” Brazilian slang for “let’s go,” as her caption.
In fact, Nunes retired final summer season after a bantamweight title protection towards Irene Aldana at UFC 289. Seeing that she went out on high as the ladies’s bantamweight champion and featherweight champion, it isn’t onerous to think about that she’d return for a worthy matchup.
Harrison might be the proper opponent.