Kayla Harrison Challenges Ronda Rousey to Fight

Kayla Harrison is set to face a new challenge after Ronda Rousey's recent outburst at a Netflix MMA press conference.

What happened?

Rousey berated Harrison on stage in New York City, sparking comparisons between the two UFC stars. Harrison called Rousey "irrelevant" after her fellow ex-judoka announced a comeback to mixed martial arts against Gina Carano this May.

Why it matters for Kayla Harrison

Ali Abdelaziz, Harrison's manager, backed his fighter's combat sports resume over Rousey's, citing Harrison's two Olympic gold medals and two PFL championships. Abdelaziz wrote on X: "Kayla Harrison is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, judo world champion, two-time PFL champion, and now a UFC champion." Rousey is an Olympic bronze medalist and former UFC champion, coming off two knockout losses.

What comes next?

Harrison responded to Rousey's attack on social media with a challenge: "FIGHT ME DEN". The American Top Team standout is back training for a super-fight later this year, with her eyes on Rousey and Amanda Nunes. Harrison has yet to put her title on the line after an injury canceled her planned showdown with Nunes this past January. As of April 16, 2026, Harrison's manager remains confident in her abilities, stating that her resume is unmatched. But one metric in which Harrison sits far behind Rousey is UFC title defenses, with Rousey recording six in a row before losing to Holly Holm in 2015. Harrison's training is underway, and a potential fight against Rousey or Nunes could be on the horizon. The rivalry between Rousey and Harrison has heated up, with both women experiencing Olympic success in judo before reaching the top of the UFC women's bantamweight division.