Kayla Harrison wants to change the world.
Earlier this month, Harrison added another achievement to her resume, beating Juliana Pena at 315 to win the Women’s Bantamweight World Championship.
For anyone who has already achieved two Olympic gold medalists and two PFL champions, it was impossible to really blame Harrison if he wrote his latest victory as another conquest to pursue being the greatest female fighter of all time. But for the mothers of the two, the fight isn’t just about praise. It’s not even about money.
It is always challenging herself, and more importantly, using the power of her star to spread love and inspire change.
“It’s always been a goal,” Harrison told the Cageside Press while attending the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame ceremony in Las Vegas. “I fight selfishly because I love it. I have the desire and fiery passion for myself to challenge myself inside me, walk into my cage, have my door locked, someone to beat me, I want to beat them, so that part is selfish.
“But the platform, the goal is to change the world that I want to see, to be the light, to spread love and kindness, and sometimes have difficult conversations and talk about the difficult things. It’s also the honor and privilege that people actually care about what I think.
When it comes to the Hall of Fame, Harrison has already established himself as the first voter that cannot be denied. However, if she wants to be recognized as a female MMA’s indisputable goat, she must experience a “liographer.”