Despite their expertise in Judo and Sambo, there has been a prediction from a United States Olympic coach that UFC bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison could potentially defeat former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in a grappling contest.
Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo and double PFL lightweight tournament champion, is gearing up for her second UFC bout scheduled for October. She is set to face Brazilian competitor Ketlen Vieira in a title eliminator showdown in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Having made an impactful UFC debut in April by securing a dominant rear-naked choke victory over former champion Holly Holm, Harrison has swiftly risen through the ranks in the promotion. A respected Judo coach has expressed confidence in her ability to pose a serious challenge to Nurmagomedov given her grappling and wrestling prowess.
Nurmagomedov, a retired former lightweight champion with an impeccable 29-0 professional record, stepped away from the sport in 2021 after submitting Justin Gaethje in the second round. Notwithstanding his remarkable career, the coach believed that Harrison possessed the necessary skills to potentially come out on top against him in a grappling encounter.
