NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Kayla Harrison has made an indelible mark on the UFC in her third fight in the organization.
Harrison beat Julianna Peña on Saturday evening at the UFC 316 via a submission to win the UFC rooster weight championship, potentially preparing for an epic fight against Amanda Nunes.
CLICK HERE for more sports cover on Foxnews.com
Kayla Harrison famous with President Donald Trump after his victory against Julianna Pena during the fight of the UFC Coqs Championship at the UFC 316 event at the Prudential Center on June 7, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. (Michelle Farsi / Zuffa LLC)
While Harrison celebrated the victory, she came out of the octagon and praised President Donald Trump. The two kissed with the fighter seeming to be in shock. Trump was present for the matches that took place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
“The President of the United States gives me a kiss on my cheek, and I am like, Saint (cow),” said Harrison after the fight. “And then Mike Tyson is there! I’m like, am I in a film right now? What’s going on?”
Now Harrison seems to be on the way to a mega fight against nunes.
Nunes left the title of 135 pounds when she retired from the sport in 2023. She is not currently in the UFC screening pool and will have to perform six months of random screening tests before being able to fight again.
President Donald Trump congratulates Kayla Harrison after winning his rooster weight fight against Julianna Pena at the UFC-316 mixed martial arts event at the Prudential Center on Saturday June 7, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. (AP photo / Ceneta manual)
Former MMA star Ben Askren is fighting against “severe pneumonia” in the hospital, says his wife
“We will certainly see each other in the future,” Nunes in Harrison told Nunes.
Harrison was twice Olympic gold medalist in judo before she turned her attention to mixed martial arts. She made her debut in MMA in 2018 in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and quickly became one of the best fighters in the organization.
She was a female champion PFL in 2019 and 2021.
Kayla Harrison poses with President Donald Trump after his victory against Julianna Pena during the fight of the UFC Coqs Championship at the UFC 316 event at the Prudential Center on June 7, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. (Michelle Farsi / Zuffa LLC)
Harrison’s victory over Peña marked his third at the UFC. She has already defeated Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira.
