Two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison is going to try her hand at MMA.
Harrison, 26, has hinted in the past she would make the jump to MMA, but she revealed to The Post on Wednesday that she is most definitely taking the plunge with the World Series of Fighting.
Harrison recently signed two contracts with the WSOF: one tying her to the organization for her first four fights and the other to be a brand ambassador and commentator for their events. She’ll make her debut behind the microphone for NBC at the WSOF’s huge event on New Year’s Eve at Madison Square Garden, where four titles will be on the line.
After defending her 2012 gold medal at this summer’s Olympics in Rio, Harrison took some well-deserved time off, but is planning to start training in MMA in January with plans to get into the cage in late 2017.
Though Harrison has yet to take a punch, she has huge potential. She is the only American judoka to win Olympic gold, and her title defense in Rio cemented her status as the greatest judo practitioner in American history.
In comparison, UFC superstar Ronda Rousey, Harrison’s former judo training partner, only ever won bronze.
Harrison competed at 78 kg (roughly 172 pounds) in judo, but plans to fight in the 145-pound featherweight division in MMA.