Kayla Harrison made former bantamweight champion Holly Holm look like light work in her Octagon debut tonight at UFC 300, controlling the fight from start to finish before sealing the deal with a 2nd round submission finish.
Round One:
Holm circles to start. Inside leg kick from Harrison. Head kick attempt from her as she closes the distance, but Holm clinches up and presses her into the cage.
Harrison likes this position though and uses her world-class judo to throw her to the mat. Holly able to get back up, but now Harrison presses her up against the cage.
Holm trying to work a takedown, but it’s Harrison who gets her down and secures top position. Punches for Harrison and then is trying to take her back. She’s not quite able to, but with Holm on her side Harrison lands punches from half-guard.
Holm gives up her back and Harrison batters her with heavy elbows. Holm quickly rolls to her back. Harrison postures up and lands a few more strikes then goes back down into guard.
Harrison with three elbow strikes. Holm with an elbow strike from her back now. More nasty blows dropping down from Harrison.
Another elbow from Harrison in the final 30 seconds of a dominant first round of her UFC debut. No sign of Octagon jitters from her.
Round Two:
Holm misses with a flurry of punches and a side kick to the body. Head kick from Harrison and then trying for a takedown. She changes up to a standing guillotine choke attempt. She gives up on that but remains clinched up.
Slick judo throw from Harrison gets Holm back to the mat. She takes Holm’s back, lands a few punches and then sinks in a rear-naked choke that forces a fast tap-out from ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ at 1.47mins of the 2nd round.
That really couldn’t have gone any better for Harrison who completely dominated Holm, showing off her judo, ground-and-pound and submission skills along the way.
