Video: Kayla Harrison Celebrates Title Victory at American Top Team

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by American Top Team (@americantopteam)

American Top Team was thrilled to add another championship to its collection.

Kayla Harrison received a warm welcome when she returned to the Florida-based gym on Monday following her second-round submission of Julianna Pena in the UFC 316 co-main event. The newly-crowned bantamweight queen was greeted by a large crowd that included the likes of Dustin Poirier and Alexandre Pantoja.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist was a two-time Professional Fighters League champion at 155 pounds before signing with the UFC, where she rolled through Holly Holm, Ketlen Vieira and Pena to reach the top of the bantamweight division.

A big-ticket showdown awaits Harrison, as she is expected to lock horns with former two-division champion Amanda Nunes at a future event. Nunes is coming out of retirement following a two-year hiatus that began following her title defense against Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023.

Interestingly enough, Nunes admitted on the UFC 316 post-fight show that Harrison’s presence was a major reason why she parted ways with ATT.

“Because when she got there, she started training with my coach, Mike Brown, Anderson [Franca], everybody, and I knew this fight would happen one day,” Nunes said. “If I was there now, that would be a problem. A huge problem for [American Top Team owner Dan Lambert]. She would have to move. Both training at the same gym, never would have happened.”