Kayla Harrison A ‘Truly Wonderful’ Performance, Says Julie Kedzie

Julie Kedzie is one of the pioneers in female mixed martial arts. So when she is impressed, that definitely means something.

Kedzie had a front-row seat at Invicta FC 45 recently to see Kayla Harrison make her promotional and featherweight debut. 

The reigning Professional Fighters League lightweight champion did not disappoint, earning a convincing and one-sided victory over Courtney King in the main event. The bout aired live on UFC Fight Pass.

“It truly was wonderful,” Kedzie said of the performance by Harrison. “We were treated to a fantastic performance. In the end, Harrison just had too much aggressive ground-and-pound.”

The 39-year-old Kedzie is now retired from active competition but works as the matchmaker for Invicta FC, the only all-female MMA promotion. She is also a fight commentator and interviewer.

Kedzie knows a thing or two about the sport, as she is experienced in taekwondo, Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. She trained with Jackson Submission Fighting and holds a third-degree black belt in taekwondo. 

During her MMA career, she competed 29 times, winning 16 including six finishes.

Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist for the United States in judo, improved to 8-0 inside the cage including three wins by knockout and three more by submission.

This was the first time she has competed outside of PFL, which returns in early 2021 after being forced to postpone the planned 2020 season due to the novel coronavirus.

Harrison signed with the promotion in 2018, earning three wins that year and four more in 2019. She capped off an impressive run through the 2020 tournament with a decision win last December vs. Larissa Pacheco.

“She likes being at 145,” Kedzie said. “She felt strong there and I am hoping to see her compete in both weight classes.”