Gold medal vs. Gold medal faceoff feat. tennis icon Novak Djokovic and rising UFC star catches internet by surprise
Paris Olympics gold medalist Novak Djokovic met up with UFC bantamweight and two-time gold medalist Kayla Harrison during Miami Open.
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Kayla Harrison and Novak Djokovic stare down during Miami Open (Source: IMAGO/X)
6-time Miami Open champ Novak Djokovic, two-time gold Olympic medalist Kayla Harrison, eight-time Miami Open winner Serena Williams, and two-time Miami Open champ Andy Murray met up in a surprising meetup. After his Miami Open matchup, current UFC bantamweight Harrison met with Djokovic, and it has spread like wildfire!
It was a real clash of golds. As such, the faceoff between Djokovic and Harrison was quite something. Harrison came home with golds at the 2010 World Championships, 2012 and 2016 Olympics. It has often seen the UFC bantamweight bruiser draw prime comparisons to big names like Ronda Rousey. She will soon compete in a championship fight rumored to be at UFC 316.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic is seeking his 100th title win and first of this season. He will be up against Sebastian Korda en route to the Miami quarterfinals. ‘Doug’ Harrison has jumped ship from PFL and made the UFC her home. Per BetOnline.Ag, FanDuels, and Stake.com, early sout reports prop her as a -300 favorite to close out as a champion this year.
Kayla Harrison, the 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medalist and current UFC fighter meets Djokovic, Serena, Del Po and Murray after the Djokovic-Musetti match.
— asud (@asud683385) March 26, 2025
She also has a stare down with Novak Djokovic pic.twitter.com/pHl0d4YvPM
IFW festivities kick off on 26 June in Las Vegas with the return of UFC X and HOF induction ceremonies. With the decorated Judoka meeting an icon like Novak Djokovic, chatboards have quipped about booking them two for International Fight Week!
All jokes and the scope of Miami Opens aside, Harrison has made quite a stand in the WMMA bantamweight roster. Much like Bellator-signing Michael Chandler, who got his title shot in his sophomore outing, Harrison is an early bet for gold. To that end, she’s already fielding some options here and there.
Norma Dumont proposes interim UFC title fight against Kayla Harrison, Julianna Pena tunes up
Harrison remains out of an arm’s length from the cusp of title crack. Meanwhile, current champ Julianna Pena is reportedly out of commission or late to the party. Even back when she snagged a decision win from Raquel Pennington, Kayla Harrison was sitting ready to face both.
Pena had long campaigned for another title scrap with the ‘cowardly’ Amanda Nunes. With the ‘GOAT’ not lacing up anymore, and no more WMMA featherweight division, Harrison is the hot new signing and it-girl in the 135-pound weight class.
Pena was dismissive of her underdog status or the matchup in general. However, the gold medal winner made the jump down and now sits as the #2 top bantamweight after defeating Ketlen Vieira. Hence, Pena is now tuning up that the fresh Kayla Harrison has more gravitas than a Nunes fight.
Kayla Harrison absolutely, because that’s fresh, that’s current, …I don’t want to be living in the past, I don’t want to be stuck in the past. I want to be moving forward and keep things pushing over here, and that’s Kayla Harrison; And I’m not unfamiliar to this territory. I was an 11-to-1 underdog with Amanda Nunes, so 7-to-1, that’s pretty good…
Julianna Pena on the ‘Overdogs’ Podcast with Mike Perry (@Overdogspod)
Despite the recent UFC 307 Pay-per-view victories, Pena vs. Harrison is next. Pen’s ongoing health pool troubles often make it tough to pitch in on time. Hence, other fighters are getting itchy fingers for the top spot. Raquel ‘Rocky’ Pennington, who many bill the rightful winner at UFC 307 PPV, could make the cut. Other than a ‘Rocky’ vs. Harrison challenge, Norma Dumont is up for an interim UFC women’s bantamweight assignment.
It’s a little bit weird, the division right now, …It seems that Julianna is not fighting Kayla, or is avoiding Kayla, or whatever her problem is. I think that the right fight would be me against Ketlen… or Raquel…If Julianna and Kayla doesn’t happen, I could fight Kayla for an interim title. That’s kind of what I think is fair so that the division evolves.
Norma Dumont through an interpreter to MMAJunkie
She’s riding high on a five-fight unbeaten streak. Her recent roll saw her go through ex-title challenger Irene Aldana in a bloody war at UFC 306. Dumont has shown her quality against strikers. However, Pena and Harrison are primarily grapplers. As such, it remains to be seen if the female Brazilian fighter can present a difficult challenge to the champion when she gets her title shot.
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