Kayla Harrison lists the lucky items she leaned on to carry her to America's first-ever gold medal in Olympic judo.

Ronda Rousey has dominated the mixed martial arts world due in part to her all-world prowess as a high-level judoka. Rousey became the first American woman to medal in judo at the Beijing Summer Olympics in 2008 when she took home the bronze medal.

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Rousey transitioned flawlessly into the sport of MMA in 2009 while using her grappling base as a foundation to allow for her other areas (mainly striking) to flourish. She is 11-0, and her last two contests were finished in a combined 30 seconds total.

So, it's easy to understand that when Olympic gold medalist (and former Rousey training partner/confidant) Kayla Harrison mentions a possible jump to mixed martial arts, the ears of fans and pundits begin to perk up.

"Who knows, maybe after Rio, [MMA] is what I'll want to do," Harrison told NBC Sports in a recent interview.

Harrison helped Rousey leading up to her Olympic run in 2008. They bonded as roommates and training partners on a Salem, N.H. property owned by Jimmy Pedro, their coach's father. The camps were described as "Rocky-like" and were so effective for Rousey that Harrison did the same thing in 2012 during her historic run through the London games; in the process, she became the first American – male or female – to earn gold in judo. Currently preparing for the 2016 summer games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Harrison finds herself missing her old partner in crime.

View photos Kayla Harrison won gold in the 78 kg. judo category at the 2012 Olympic games. (Getty) More

"I actually miss it," she said. "I miss having a girl to train with who hates to lose as much as me."

Harrison and Rousey still communicate via text and on the phone with regularity. Rousey, who has essentially eviscerated her division on the way to pound-for-pound supremacy, has been vocal to her friend about transitioning to MMA.

"We go back and forth," Harrison said. "It's pretty tempting at times. Who doesn't want to be famous? Who doesn't want to be rich? Who doesn't yearn for all of those things at some point in their life?

Rousey has even extended a helping hand, giving Harrison her MMA contacts to use at her disposal. Even with her obvious talent and pedigree, and even with Rousey's ringing endorsements, the Middletown, Ohio-native isn't quite sure the entertainment aspect of the sport is something she's cut out for.

"I just don't know if it's for me, quite honestly. I'm not as confident as Ronda in front of the media. I don't mean this in a negative way, but I'm not a showboater. I don't think I would be very good at putting on a show or talking trash."

It's important to note that Rousey wasn't always a glamorous show-stopping attraction. Rousey's confidence was built through smaller shows (albeit brief stops, unquestionably) and the bravado came along after each emphatic, statement win.

Harrison has the all the tools to be a successful fighter, it seems. Especially when considering how far behind the women seem to be in regard to Rousey's Olympic pedigree.

If anything, Harrison needn't worry about matching Rousey's entertainment value – winning takes care of a lot of that – it's Rousey's mean-streak that Harrison should look to harness.