In the world of mixed martial arts, competitors use a combination of striking, grappling, and throwing skills from the various arts.
While there is no set combination of martial arts that a fighter has to be trained in, there is a debate on which martial arts are most common between champions.
This article will explore two top female MMA fighters who have strong foundations in Judo, and have brought these skills into the MMA arena.
1. Kayla Harrison
Kayla Harrison is a former team USA Judo double Olympic champion, who transitioned into UFC following her gold medal at the 2016 Olympic games.
She had an astounding judo career winning 14 IJF Grand Prix medals, 9 IJF Grand Slam medals, 2 world masters gold medals and 3 world championship medals.
Her ground work skills were evident after her first win at her MMA debut in June of 2018, where she won with an armbar submission in the first round.
Harrison using her judo skills in the octagon would be an ongoing occurrence, she added to her success by winning again in 2021 via arm bar against Cindy Dandois.
Her groundwork has become a staple of her fighting on the judo tatami, and on the MMA scene.
Equally Harrison has demonstrated how she has adjusted to the new environment with incredible striking and all-around skills.
Her judo has remained paramount to her MMA, but she is now a threat to her opponents in all areas.
2. Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey is a judoka, wrestler, and MMA fighter.
She won an Olympic bronze medal in the under 70-kilogram category in Beijing, and a silver medal at the world championship the year before.
Ronda Rousey’s achievements were cemented in the history books as she was the first woman to achieve an Olympic medal for team USA since the sport was added to the Olympics.
Following her successful judo career, Rousey transitioned into the MMA world. Her debut in 2010 was won in just twenty-three seconds with an armbar.
Rousey would continue using her ne-waza skills, and in 2011 made the switch to the pro level.
In 2015 the UFC officially announced that she was the first woman to sign to them. An amazing triumph for her early career.
After this she successfully defended her title for the next six fights, winning them all by arm bar.
Unfortunately, Holly Holm would end this streak for Rousey defeating her in 2015. Rousey cited her film and other outside commitments for the loss.
Despite this she transitioned into the WWE making her debut in 2018 where she once again became undefeated using her signature arm bar to defeat her opponents.
These two women cultivated pathways for themselves from Team USA judo into the MMA scene and even beyond that.
At one point the pair were even training partners. Two slightly different approaches but a love for ne-waza has carried a fresh energy from the tatami to the octagon.
