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UFC veteran delivers shady backhanded compliment about Ronda Rousey’s legacy

UFC Bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison reflected on Ronda Rousey’s impact on women’s MMA while questioning the level of competition she faced during her UFC tenure. Harrison acknowledged Rousey’s role in opening doors for female fighters, calling her achievements groundbreaking, but later suggested that many of her opponents lacked the skill to challenge her.

The two athletes share a history beyond the cage, with Rousey defeating Harrison twice in judo when Harrison was just 14 or 15, while Rousey was 17 or 18. Harrison later overcame those early setbacks to become a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo (2012, 2016) and the current UFC Bantamweight champion, contrasting with Rousey’s bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Their contrasting paths highlight the evolution of women’s combat sports, with Harrison now preparing for a title defense against Amanda Nunes.

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