Jon Anik thinks Kayla Harrison could carry the torch for women’s MMA after UFC 316.
Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) challenges bantamweight champion Julianna Peña (13-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
If Harrison can capture UFC gold, Anik sees her reaching similar heights to former champions Ronda Rousey and Amanda Nunes. He explains how.
“Global traction is different than domestic momentum and traction, and I think that’s an important distinction here,” Anik told MMA Junkie Radio. “Because I think Ilia Topuria globally has a ton of traction, but I can’t sit here to you and suggest that he’s some massive superstar in the United States of America. Kayla Harrison has the potential to be a face – if not the face – of women’s mixed martial arts if she has the undisputed UFC bantamweight championship around her shoulder. And not once, but twice she struck Olympic gold representing the stars and stripes of the United States of America.
“This isn’t an American talking about how big and powerful the U.S. is, but relative, longterm, overall to mixed martial arts success, there’s been a lot of it in the United States, and there aren’t a lot of American champions right now. So, I think the potential for Kayla Harrison would be vast. Not just internationally, but particularly domestically to really gain some steam and just be trotted around on every big show here in the U.S. Her story, too, is unbelievable. The adopted children, you know, for her family. I’d love to see Kayla Harrison’s story really get told on a huge scale, especially in the U.S.”
Harrison is a former two-time PFL champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka. After wins over Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira in the octagon, she will look to add UFC gold to her accomplishments.
