Kayla Harrison has lived a life marked by extraordinary triumph and devastating trauma. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and UFC star recently opened up about an abusive relationship that forced her to establish a “hard rule” about dating within the combat sports worldh.
In 2021, Harrison filed a restraining order against former UFC fighter Anthony Rocco Martin in Broward County, Florida. The protective order was extended twice before eventually being dismissed, but the turmoil didn’t end there. Police were called to intervene in incidents involving the couple in late 2022 and early 2023.
Reflecting on this chapter of her life, Harrison was candid about the lessons learned. “I have a hard rule now against dating fighters,” she revealed in a recent interview.
The difficulty, she noted, lies in finding a partner who can genuinely handle her success and fierce independence—qualities that have defined her championship career but proved incompatible with certain personalities in her personal life.
The ordeal came during an already grueling period for Harrison, who has undergone three surgeries in the past year.
Harrison candidly discussed the challenges she faced, particularly during a difficult period when she simultaneously navigated parenthood, career demands, and personal turmoil.
“I’m doing all these things. I’m training. I’m fighting. But I’m in like abusive relationship after abusive relationship,” Harrison stated. “I’m making bad choices. I’m f**ked up left and right. Like just lost. I’m a lost human at this point.”
Yet through physical pain and emotional upheaval, her commitment to her MMA career has never wavered. “I’m exactly what the UFC needs right now,” Harrison stated with confidence, embodying the relentless drive that has carried her through every challenge.
Harrison’s journey to self-protection wasn’t just about recognizing red flags in romantic relationships. Her life story includes surviving childhood sexual abuse by a coach, a trauma she finally disclosed at age 15. That experience taught her painful lessons about trust, boundaries, and the importance of speaking up.
Today, Harrison channels her energy into being a role model both inside and outside the cage. She’s a single mother who adopted her niece and nephew, providing them with the stability and protection she sometimes lacked growing up.
She explained how they became a turning point. “God stepped in and said, ‘Dude,'” Harrison recalled. “And he gave me direction. And he said like, ‘You might not have you might not be smart enough or brave enough or wise enough to like fix your life for you, but are you going to f**k up their life, too?’ And I was like, ‘No, God, no, I’m not.'”
Harrison described how the children helped her break free from destructive patterns. “Dude, they saved my life,” she emphasized. “You might not be smart enough or brave enough or wise enough to like fix your life for you, but are you going to f**k up their life, too?”
Despite these personal struggles and undergoing three surgeries in the past year, Harrison remains fiercely dedicated to her MMA career.
