UFC bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison is preparing for the defining fight of her career against former champion and former teammate Amanda Nunes in the co-main event of UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden. The matchup was originally planned for January at UFC 324 before Harrison had to withdraw just 11 days prior due to a severe neck injury.
The Road to Recovery
Dealing with herniated discs in her neck since her days as a two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist in judo, Harrison suffered a training injury so severe that it necessitated immediate surgery. The demanding rehabilitation process forced her to confront the possibility that she might never fully recover or fight again. Speaking to CBS Sports, Harrison expressed gratitude for reaching fight week after a recovery that proved much harder than anticipated.
Harrison noted that the physical trials made her question how badly she wanted to return for what could be the final bout of her eight-year professional MMA career. While she has not made a definitive decision, she acknowledges that retirement following Saturday’s event, regardless of the outcome, remains a real possibility.
Chasing the Status of GOAT
Nunes enters the Octagon looking to shake off three years of cage rust following her 2023 retirement due to physical burnout, while Harrison returns for the first time in 17 months after submitting Julianna Pena in June 2025 at UFC 316. Harrison stated that the opportunity to face Nunes is the sole reason she endured the brutal neck surgery recovery, noting she would have otherwise walked away from the sport permanently.
From her entry into an MMA gym in late 2016 and her 2018 professional debut at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, Harrison’s stated goal has been to become the best fighter in history. A victory over Nunes, widely regarded as the greatest female fighter of all time, would solidify that claim in her eyes, though she acknowledges her resume does not feature the same volume of legendary names.
Harrison boasts a 19-1 record, with her lone defeat coming via unanimous decision against Larissa Pacheco in the 2022 PFL lightweight tournament finals. Beyond her fighting career, Harrison’s life has been marked by perseverance through childhood abuse, advocacy for child sexual abuse awareness, and single motherhood after adopting and homeschooling her niece and nephew.
A Grueling Weight Cut and Past Ties
To realize her UFC dreams, Harrison dropped from her Olympic judo weight of 172 pounds and her PFL lightweight run at 155 pounds to the 135-pound bantamweight division after the UFC folded its featherweight class. Friday will mark her fourth time making the grueling 135-pound limit.
Both fighters have expressed mutual respect ahead of the bout, setting aside any lingering tension from Nunes’ 2022 departure from American Top Team. Harrison recalled sparring with Nunes only once during her early days at the gym and defended her past statements about wanting to fight Nunes as a compliment rather than a threat. Harrison remains steadfast in her loyalty to American Top Team, confirming the same corner team will accompany her on Saturday night.
Quoting her longtime judo coach, Jimmy “Big Jim” Pedro Sr., Harrison described the stylistic clash as a battle between a thoroughbred and a workhorse. She characterized Nunes as a gifted, powerful striker and herself as a gritty, grinding wrestler, predicting her own hand will be raised at the end of the night.
