Kayla Harrison's 2026 Ambitions: Targeting UFC Glory and a Dream Matchup
Kayla Harrison is gearing up for a monumental 2026, fresh off her UFC bantamweight title victory in June. The win over Julianna Peña at UFC 316 was a significant milestone for the two-time Olympic gold medalist, and it set the stage for a highly anticipated showdown. But here's where it gets controversial—the fight everyone's been waiting for is against former champion Amanda Nunes, who was there to witness Harrison's triumph.
In a recent interview on the Death Row podcast with Jorge Masvidal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGuOXPSqPuE), Harrison hinted at the impending clash: "There's a fight on the horizon... It's a fight that we all want to see happen, and it's coming sooner than you think." She envisions a grand plan, fighting soon and then again at the prestigious UFC White House card, emphasizing her status as the sole American champion.
The backstory adds intrigue. Harrison and Nunes were once teammates at American Top Team, but Nunes departed upon Harrison's arrival, predicting their eventual clash. The fight was rumored for 2022, but Nunes' loss to Peña and Harrison's PFL contract extension delayed the inevitable. Now, four years later, the stage is set for this epic encounter.
But Harrison's aspirations don't stop there. When asked if Nunes would be her final fight, she confidently replied, "I'm not done." She envisions a swift victory and a dream matchup against Valentina Shevchenko, whom she imagines as a Russian spy or assassin, despite Shevchenko's Kyrgyz and Peruvian heritage. Alternatively, Harrison would welcome a returning Ronda Rousey or any other worthy contender.
The UFC landscape is buzzing with excitement as Shevchenko prepares to defend her flyweight title against Zhang Weili at UFC 322 in New York, while Rousey's potential comeback remains a topic of speculation. Will Harrison's dream matchups come to fruition? Only time will tell, but the anticipation is palpable.
And this is the part most people miss—the impact of these fights extends beyond the cage. Harrison's journey from Olympic glory to UFC stardom is an inspiration to many, and her upcoming battles will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy in the world of mixed martial arts.
