Kayla Harrison

By Joshua Molina

Olympic Gold Medalist in judo Kayla Harrison has signed with Dominance MMA management company.

Harrison is the first woman to win a gold medal in judo in history. She could follow Ronda Rousey, a former Olympic Bronze Medalist, into MMA. Rousey’s rapid rise and use of judo throws to set up arm bars on her opponents has thrust the martial art into the spotlight.

A dream match with Rousey is unlikely. Harrison weighs 165 pounds. Rousey competes in Strikeforce’s 135 pound division.

Still, according to a published report, Harrison is in no hurry to compete in MMA. She said she would like to return to the 2016 Olympic games and win another gold medal in judo.

Jon Jones continued his string of strange comments in yesterday’s media conference calls. Jones blasted the use of testosterone replacement theory, implying that if Henderson (who participates in the procedure) wants to continue fighting into his 40s that he shouldn’t rely on medical assistance to keep him strong.

“I believe if you’re healthy enough to play a sport, you shouldn’t take any performance enhancement drugs or testosterone. Fighters make a lot of money in their 20s, make a lot of money in their 30s, and when they get in their 40s, unfortunately, you’re in your 40s,” Jones said.

Tough talk from the 25-year-old. It would be interesting to know what Henderson thinks of drinking and driving?

Miesha Tate looks to be taking the scenic route back to a Strikeforce title shot. Oddly, she doesn’t want to fight Ronda Rousey right now. Rousey tapped Miesha Tate out in the first round, tearing ligaments in Tate’s arm.

You’d think Tate would be jumping at the chance to fight Rousey quickly, in a fight that would be both of the fighters’ biggest pay days. Instead she said: “I absolutely want to fight Ronda Rousey twice, but at this point, you know, mentally and emotionally, I’m not right. I shouldn’t be getting into the cage if I’m not going into it wholeheartedly for this fight. It’s hard for me to admit that, but that’s the honest truth.”

Is she afraid of Rousey? Sounds like it. Maybe she’s just holding out for a rumored shot at hosting The Ultimate Fighter opposite Rousey in the UFC. Or maybe she’s hoping Rousey will lose to someone else so that she doesn’t ever have to step back into the cage with the destructive diva.

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar returned to combat (sort of) last Sunday at WWE’s SummerSlam in Los Angeles. After leaving the UFC, Lesnar signed a one year deal to compete in the WWE for $5 million. Lesnar has marketed himself as the man who will “bring legitimacy back to the WWE.” Although the WWE is home to many top level athletes, pro wrestling outcomes are scripted, so Lesnar’s storyline is that he is a “real” athlete looking to legitimize pro wrestling.

WWE fans dislike Lesnar because they feel like he abandoned the company that gave him a marketable name to compete in the UFC. His return has been a big disappointment. He doesn’t talk much. He lacks the charisma he had during his first stint in the WWE, and Lesnar looks like he just out there collecting a paycheck. He lacks the passion, hunger and athleticism that pro wrestlers need, even in when the outcome is scripted.

He isn’t helping himself by applying what was probably 20 submission armbars in a match against Triple H last Sunday. A real MMA fight isn’t going to have one fighter applying 20 armbars in one match. Lesnar just looks like a goof and failed MMA star trying to use MMA moves that he never even mastered himself, in a wrestling ring.

Although he met with Dana White a couple of months ago to reportedly talk about a return to the UFC, it’s hard to imagine that Lesnar would ever be competitive again in the UFC’s heavyweight division.

Contact reporter Joshua Molina at jmolina@fcfighter.com. Or follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JoshuaMolinaMMA