5 MMA fighters who have appeared on AEW

CM Punk has competed in both the UFC and AEW
CM Punk has competed in both the UFC and AEW

#4. Kayla Harrison - featherweight/lightweight MMA fighter

Harrison holds a professional record of 12-0
Harrison holds a professional record of 12-0

It's surprising that we still don't know where the hottest free agent in MMA will be fighting next. The former two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo has transitioned expertly to mixed martial arts and is now a former two-time PFL lightweight champion. However, it's safe to say her next stop will not be AEW.

Kayla Harrison trains at American Top Team and appeared on AEW alongside head coach Dan Lambert, who bought a number of pro-fighters. She was involved in an altercation between the ATT group and Chris Jericho's Inner Circle but does not seem interested in returning to AEW any time soon.

She has since stated that her AEW was very much a one-off and remains fully focused on her martial arts career. Most recently, it appeared as though the front-runner to sign Kayla Harrison was the PFL. However, with a deal yet to be reached, who knows what her future will hold.


#3. Paige VanZant - flyweight MMA fighter

VanZant holds a professional record of 8-5
VanZant holds a professional record of 8-5

Paige VanZant may not be as decorated as some of the other names on this list in terms of MMA resumes. With that being said, she appeared like a natural on AEW programming and may be the best placed to make the transition to pro-wrestling successfully.

While VanZant's initial introduction to AEW fans may have been similar to Harrison's, her role on-screen has grown. The week following her debut appearance, VanZant was back and the following week attacked Chris Jerricho. More recently, she was highlighted in a brawl with Brandi Rhodes.

Away from AEW, VanZant remains under contract with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship but has mentioned that she would like to return to martial arts. Given she is still only 27 and once held a three-fight win streak in the UFC, she could still have plenty of success in either MMA or the world of pro-wrestling.

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