Armed with a pair of Olympic gold medals, a couple of PFL titles and a build that makes her look like a middle linebacker next to most female bantamweights, Kayla Harrison finally fulfilled her destiny on Saturday.
Harrison survived sexual abuse as a child, domestic violence and a brutal weight cut she says is only possible with God's help to win the UFC women's bantamweight title with a second-round submission by Kimura of Julianna Peña. Harrison was too big, too strong, too athletic and just too good for Peña, who tapped with five seconds left in the second in order for Harrison not to break her arm.
The victory sets up a showdown with Amanda Nunes, the greatest female fighter in MMA history who is coming out of retirement with the goal of regaining her title.
"I have the belt; she has the legacy," Harrison said after Nunes was finally allowed to enter the Octagon. "Let's put it all on the line."
She looked awful on the scale making 135 for the first time, sparking questions about her readiness. But hours later, she was radiant and terrifying again — fit, strong and fearsome.
She conceded it was torture getting the final pound off to make the championship limit and said, "Only God could get that last pound off." When she entered the Octagon, she looked fabulous, fit, strong and fearsome.
And she did to Peña, a two-time UFC champion, what she had done to so many others in a 20-bout MMA career.
"This is for anyone who's ever felt hopeless, who's wanted to quit" Harrison said. "This is for anyone who has wanted to give up. I'll tell you what, on Thursday night [when I was cutting weight], I wanted to quit. I wanted to give up, but there's a small voice inside of you that will tell you don't give up. So don't give up."
Harrison took Peña down in the first and was controlling her on the ground. Peña landed an illegal upkick while Harrison was on her knees and had a point deducted. It seemed that might loom large, but it had no bearing.
Harrison took care of business in the second. She took Peña down again and was grinding on her. It appeared she was working on an arm triangle when she reached across and grabbed Peña's left arm. Harrison torqued it hard and even with Peña knowing the bell was near, she tapped to start the Harrison Era.