Kayla Harrison is fighting for the UFC women’s bantamweight championship Saturday night at UFC 316.

A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Harrison dominated her five-year run in the Professional Fighters League, winning 16 of her 17 bouts. The only American to ever win Olympic gold in judo, she also won her first two bouts in the UFC. And she enters the title bout as a colossal favorite.

But Harrison was not always the favorite. In fact, she was far from it.

“I’ve been through the worst of the worst,” said Harrison. “Nothing in that cage can break me.”

Harrison’s father committed suicide. Her sister battled addiction. And she lost her innocence – and confidence and self-worth – as a teenager when her coach back in Ohio sexually abused her.

On the cusp of tragedy, Harrison’s mother made a

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