Kayla Harrison has all the characteristics of a runaway freight train.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time defending Professional Fighters League women’s lightweight champion will confront her latest challenge when she meets Kaitlin Young in the PFL 6 main event on Friday at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. Harrison kicked off her 2022 campaign on May 6, when she improved to a perfect 12-0 with a unanimous decision over Marina Mokhnatkina at PFL 3. A short-notice replacement for the injured Julia Budd, Young enters the cage on a two-fight losing streak. She carries a 1-2 record in the PFL.
As Harrison and Young make final preparations for their upcoming battle at 155 pounds, a look at some of the numbers that have accompanied them to this point:
31: Years of age for Harrison, who was born on July 2, 1990 in Middletown, Ohio.
5: Harrison victories by submission, accounting for 38% of her career total (13). Her methods of choice: four armbars and one keylock. Harrison holds five other victories by knockout or technical knockout and three more by decision.
83: Seconds needed for Harrison to punch out Mariana Morais at PFL 3 on May 6, 2021. Having occurred more than a year ago, it remains her fastest finish to date.
2,000,000: Dollars in prize money awarded to Harrison for winning the PFL women’s lightweight championship in 2019 and 2021. The promotion put paused its operations in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
.626: Cumulative winning percentage between the 12 opponents—Mokhnatkina, Morais, Larissa Pacheco (twice), Taylor Guardado, Genah Fabian, Cindy Dandois, Courtney King, Bobbi Jo Dalziel, Morgan Frier, Moriel Charneski, Jozette Cotton and Brittney Elkin—Harrison has defeated. They boast a combined record of 92-55.
36: Years of age for Young, who was born in Circle Pines, Minnesota, on Sept. 15, 1985.
8: Young wins by knockout or technical knockout, accounting for 67% of her career total (12). Her list of victims includes Miesha Tate, Faith McMah and Patti Lee. Young owns four other wins by decision.
1: Stalemate on the Young resume. She settled for a split draw with Leslie Smith at Invicta Fighting Championships 1 in April 2012.
12: Calendar years in which Young has fought at least once. She went 4-0 in 2007, 0-2 in 2008, 0-1 in 2009, 1-1 in 2010, 1-1 in 2011, 1-2-1 in 2012, 0-1 in 2013, 0-1 in 2014, 2-0 in 2018, 1-1 in 2019, 1-0 in 2020 and 1-2 in 2021.
132: Combined victories between the 12 opponents—Budd, Smith, Morais, Pam Sorenson, Raquel Canuto, Lauren Murphy, Liz Carmouche, Julie Kedzie, Jennifer Tate, Shanna Nelson, Gina Carano and Sarah Schneider—who have beaten Young. They sport a cumulative .644 winning percentage (132-72-1).
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