Ronda Rousey became one of the most recognizable fighters in UFC history thanks to her devastating armbar. However, current UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison believes that even a prime version of Rousey wouldn’t have been able to submit her with the technique.
The two fighters share a history that stretches back long before their MMA careers. Both competed at the highest levels of judo, with Rousey even defeating Harrison twice when Harrison was younger.
Despite those earlier defeats, Harrison went on to become a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and she isn’t backing down from comparisons with the former UFC superstar.
Kayla Harrison Says Ronda Rousey’s Armbar Wouldn’t Work Against Her
Speaking on Deep Waters, Harrison addressed the possibility of Rousey catching her in the submission that helped define her MMA career.
“We learned the armbar at the same gym together,” Harrison said. “You think she’s going to armbar me? Don’t be disrespectful now.”
(via Zuffa LLC)
Harrison’s confidence comes from years of elite-level judo competition. She became the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in judo at the 2012 London Games before winning another at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Rousey also enjoyed a successful judo career, earning a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before transitioning to MMA.
While Harrison respects what Rousey accomplished, she believes their respective grappling credentials deserve consideration when discussing how a hypothetical matchup would unfold.
Harrison and Rousey’s Judo History Adds Another Layer to the Debate
Rousey’s dominance helped establish women’s MMA in the UFC, where she became the promotion’s first women’s bantamweight champion.
Her signature armbar was particularly dangerous early in her career, allowing her to finish opponents quickly and build a reputation as one of the sport’s most feared submission specialists.
However, Harrison’s background presents a different challenge. Unlike many of Rousey’s early MMA opponents, Harrison spent years competing against world-class judoka before transitioning to professional fighting.
The comparison remains hypothetical, but Harrison’s comments carry additional weight because the two women trained in the same environment and competed against each other before becoming UFC champions.
Rousey may have gotten the better of Harrison during their earlier judo meetings, but Harrison clearly doesn’t believe that history means she would fall victim to Rousey’s most famous submission.
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