Kayla Harrison retained her UFC women’s bantamweight title on Saturday evening at Madison Square Garden by submitting Amanda Nunes in the fourth round, ruining the return of the competitor widely considered the finest female mixed martial artist in history.
The finish, a rear-naked choke at 1:29 of the fourth round, marked Harrison’s first successful title defense and extended her undefeated streak within the UFC.
The co-main event of UFC 334 pitted two of the most decorated athletes in combat sports against one another. Harrison, 36, entered the bout with a 20-1 record, while Nunes (23-6) returned to the octagon after a three-year retirement.
For Harrison, the victory was the culmination of a year defined by medical adversity; she previously underwent spinal fusion surgery in January to treat a neck injury that had left her unable to lift 20 pounds, forcing a long delay for the anticipated matchup.
Madison Square Garden has become a destination for fighters seeking to define their careers. Harrison utilized the venue to solidify her status as the best right now. The fight was the first appearance for Harrison since her victory over Julianna Peña at UFC 316 in June 2025, where she captured the bantamweight belt.
Having stepped away in 2023 as the sole female double-champion in UFC history and the only competitor of either gender to successfully defend both belts, Nunes initially sought to probe the champion using her striking. However, the contest frequently shifted to the ground.
Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist (2012 and 2016), utilized her signature hip tosses and grappling prowess to neutralize the challenger. According to stats, Harrison landed 160 total strikes to Nunes. While Nunes attempted to engage in grappling, the tactic consistently played into the champion’s hands, allowing Harrison to repeatedly secure the crucifix position to land shots.
The decisive sequence occurred in the fourth round when Harrison caught a kick, pulled her off balance, and quickly transitioned to her back to lock in the rear-naked choke. The loss marks the sixth defeat of Nunes’ 29-fight career, while the win adds to Harrison’s record.
Post-fight, both the physical toll of the weight cut and the intensity of the bout were evident. Harrison, who in May 2025 told MMA Junkie that she naturally walked around at 165 pounds, admitted that the 135-pound weight limit is difficult to meet.
“I’ve got a lot of decisions to make when I get home. Every time I make weight, I say never again, so we’ll see,” Harrison said. She further noted the need for recovery, adding, “I’ve definitely got some injuries after that fight, I’ll need to heal up.”
“I think I'm still in shock,” Harrison said.
Despite the win, Harrison’s future remains fluid, as she has expressed interest in the UFC potentially bringing back her home weight class for a rematch with Nunes. Nunes, who was not interviewed following the bout, leaves the status of her career uncertain after her high-profile return.
Reflecting on her journey, Harrison expressed gratitude, noting, “If you had told me at 6 years old this would be my life, if you had told me at 16 years old this would be my life, I wouldn’t believe you. I’m just really grateful.”