MIDDLETOWN, Ohio – The City of Middletown, in partnership with Middletown City Schools, is welcoming back newly-crowned Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Women’s Bantamweight Champion Kayla Harrison to her alma mater for a homecoming rally and live recording show of The Middletown Now Podcast on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at the Wade E. Miller Arena at Middletown High School. The event is free and open to the public.
“I’m incredibly excited to be returning home to celebrate my title win with the people—and the city—who helped shape me,” Harrison said. “Middletown has played such a meaningful role in my journey, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to share this special moment with my family, friends, and fans. As they say, ‘Once a Middie, always a Middie.’”
Kayla Harrison, a Middletown native and graduate of Middletown High School, defeated two-time champion Julianna Pena last month at UFC 316 in New Jersey to earn her the title of reigning Bantamweight champion. Harrison quickly rose to stardom in the UFC after winning her first UFC match in April 2024 against former champion Holly Holm.
Harrison was already an accomplished athlete well before her UFC rise. In 2012 and 2016, she won Olympic gold medals in Judo, becoming the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in that sport. Harrison was inducted into the United States Judo Federation Hall of Fame in 2015 and was promoted to a 6th Degree Black Belt in 2016, the youngest person American to ever receive that rank. She is also the first female to win both an Olympic gold medal and a UFC Championship.
The homecoming rally and live podcast will be hosted by City of Middletown Communications Manager Clayton Castle, the host of The Middletown Now Podcast, and will feature special guest speakers and presentations. Harrison will also give remarks to the crowd before sitting down for the podcast interview.
Interview Opportunity: Harrison will be available for media interviews at the conclusion of the event and prior to autograph signings.