Amanda Nunes will return to the UFC octagon to face Kayla Harrison in a highly anticipated bout at UFC 334, scheduled for Saturday at Madison Square Garden. This fight brings Nunes back from retirement after three years away from competition.
Nunes, 38, left the sport in 2023 as the most successful female mixed martial artist in history, holding both the featherweight and bantamweight titles simultaneously and defending both belts successfully. Her career includes victories over Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, and Valentina Shevchenko. After losing the bantamweight title to Julianna Pena in a major upset, she reclaimed it at UFC 277 with a commanding performance. Feeling she had achieved everything in MMA, Nunes stepped away, saying she had "completed" the sport.
The arrival of Kayla Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo gold medallist and two-time PFL lightweight world champion, changed her mind. Harrison joined the UFC in 2024 and won the bantamweight title in just her third fight with the promotion. Nunes explained her motivation: "When Kayla signed with the UFC and I saw the division with some new girls it excited me. Because I cleaned both divisions and didn't have anything to do any more. That was when I was sure I wanted to do this again."
The two fighters share a history as former teammates at American Top Team before Nunes left in 2022. Their friendship adds another layer to what pundits are calling one of the biggest women's fights in UFC history. The bout was originally set for January but was postponed after Harrison needed neck and spinal surgery.
Nunes has not lost her confidence despite the time away. She said, "I'm not here today as a challenger, I'm here today as a double champion. I needed a break and did it at the right time for my mind, body and soul." She emphasised that the fight is about the challenge Harrison presents and its significance for women's MMA. "There's no hate. It's about the challenge Kayla brings and how great this will be for women's MMA. We want to prove who the best girl is in the cage."
Throughout her career, Nunes has won 23 of 28 fights since debuting in 2008, with 13 wins by knockout. She holds 11 wins in title fights, tied for the most in UFC women's history alongside Shevchenko. Nunes headlined several major UFC events, including UFC 200 in 2016 and her title reclaim at UFC 277. Since her last fight against Irene Aldana, only one UFC numbered event has been headlined by women, UFC 332 in October, when Natalia Silva defeated Wang Cong.
Nunes has expressed frustration that women's MMA has lost momentum during her absence. "I got upset when I left because I wanted to see the division grow. Back in the day, we put in so much work to this division," she said. "This is my work here, I want to make women's MMA great, I want the UFC proud of us, so when I saw it slowing down I was a little sad and I got the itch. I want to jump back in and bring it back again."
During her break, Nunes spent more time with her partner Nina and their two daughters but admitted she missed the fight game. At 38, the question remains whether she can maintain her previous form, but she intends to continue fighting beyond this match "until my body tells me."
UFC 334 will see these two fighters meet in a match that carries weight beyond the cage, Nunes aiming to reassert her dominance and Harrison to confirm her rapid rise. The fight is set to be a defining moment for women's MMA at one of the sport’s most iconic venues.
According to BBC Sports.
