Kayla Harrison does not choose – or other actual nominees – as the deserved winner of this year's 'Best UFC Fighter'.
Harrison enjoyed another successful 12 months in the cage, culminating in the realization of her ambitions of the UFC championship.
The double Olympic gold medal winner followed her emphatic submission against Holly Holm on debut by eliminating a heavily fought against Ketlen Vieira in October. That result yielded the former PFL star a title shot, which made Harrison the best on UFC 316 by submitting Julianna Pena with a kimura.
Those versions have delivered Harrison a place on the list of four athletes for the 'Best UFC Fighter' ESPY Award this year. But the newly crowned Bantamweight Queen, instead, throws her support behind her agreed teammate.
Kayla Harrison says that not -nominated Alexandre Pantoja is worth the most Espy Award
Participate in Harrison as nominees for the ESPY Award from 2025 his former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, reigning middleweight title holder Drus du Plessis and the current Bantamweight King Merab Dvalishvili.
After confirmation of the nominees, the ESPN MMA account asked for the opinions of fans with a social media survey.
One of the hunters who are eligible to win gave their choice quickly, but it was not from the list of nominees.
While some in the commentary section questioned Ilia Topuria, Harrison pointed to her fellow American top team trained champion, Alexandre Pantoja.
“My voice is for Pantoja,” she wrote.
'The Cannibal' was in action last Saturday at UFC 317 in Las Vegas. Pantoja submitted Kai Kara-France in the co-headliner to successfully defend the flight weight title for the fourth time.
My voice is for Pantoja.
– Kayla Harrison Official (@Kaylah) 3 July 2025
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Sean O'Malley, Jon Jones and other earlier Espy winners
The person who wins this year on July 16 would certainly be in good company.
A number of legends and former champions have been created in recent years, including ex-Bantamweight Kingpin Sean O'Malley in 2024, retired two-division champion Jones in 2023, lightweight Fan-favorite Charles Oliveira in 2022, and Geitkedel Khabibibi1111.
2020 marked the first time that MMA received his own category, after he had previously been banned to share a “best fighter” prize with boxers. The first winner of the MMA-Exclusive Award was Daniel Cormier.
Even while they compete with boxers, the stars of the UFC still enjoyed any success, with Demetrious Johnson, Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey who are the dominance of Floyd Mayweather Jr. helped in the end of the price of Floyweather Jr.