Den tvåfaldige OS-guldmedaljören och judokan Kayla Harrison har valt att pröva lyckan i MMA och har nu skrivit på kontrakt med organisationen WSOF. Hon kommer först och främst att jobba som ambassadör och kommentator, för att sedan fortsätta som fighter.
Det här berättade Harrison via USA Today Sports:
I’ve been boxing and doing jiu-jitsu and all that, and the biggest thing for me, really, is that I miss competing. I miss fighting on the highest stages of the world, and the World Series of Fighting really gave me a great opportunity.
Enligt WSOF:s VD Carlos Silva kommer Harrison att göra sin debut som kommentator under WSOF 34 som hålls i Madison Square Garden den 31 december:
For me, personally, having been president of Universal Sports and being very involved in the Olympic movement with NBC, I’m personally just very excited to have Kayla join our team. If you haven’t ever held a gold medal or seen a gold medal, it’s special, and the people that get them are special. We’re just excited to have her join the team.
Harrison har många gånger jämförts med sin före detta träningspartner Ronda Rousey. Harrison känner dock ingen press att leva upp till folks förväntningar och Rouseys framgångar, men det betyder inte att hon inte har någonting att bevisa inom MMA.
A lot of times people like to compare me to Ronda. I’m my own person. I make my own decisions. I’ll do it in my own time.
I just want everyone to be excited and expect big things from me. This is only the beginning.
I’m excited for this new chapter. I’m excited to commentate. I’m excited to be a brand ambassador and help the World Series of Fighting grow their organization, as well as help me grow myself as a fighter, as a brand myself, and my foundation. So it’s all coming together, and I’m really excited to be working with such a positive and professional team.
Silva välkomnar Harrisons entusiasm och tror definitivt att hon kan bli en stjärna inom sporten.
I don’t think you ever temper the enthusiasm around a two-time gold medalist in judo. No, I think everyone will be as enthusiastic as we are.
She can enter into mixed martial arts with a huge confidence around such a core foundational component of MMA. So I’m not going to try and temper any enthusiasm. People can get as enthusiastic as they want because I know I am.
26-årige Harrison tog senast guld i Rio de Janeiro i somras och innan detta under OS i London 2012.
