Harrison defends bantamweight title against returning Nunes at MSG

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 07:26 · Archive

Kayla Harrison defends her UFC bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes at Madison Square Garden on Saturday in a historic women's fight.

Kayla Harrison will defend her UFC women's bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night in what the promotion has called one of the greatest women's fights of all time. Harrison, 36, is an American two-time Olympic gold medallist in judo who transitioned to MMA, becoming a two-time PFL lightweight world champion before joining the UFC in 2024. She won the bantamweight title in only her third UFC fight, having defeated Julianna Pena to take the belt.

Nunes, 38, is a Brazilian who retired from the UFC in 2023 as the most successful women's mixed martial artist in the sport's history. She was a former featherweight and bantamweight champion, the only woman to hold UFC titles in two weight classes simultaneously, and the only fighter of either gender to successfully defend both belts. During her career she defeated major fighters including Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg and Valentina Shevchenko.

Nunes came out of retirement specifically for the chance to fight Harrison. 'When Kayla signed with the UFC and I saw the division with some new girls it excited me,' she said. '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 pair were former teammates at American Top Team Gym before Nunes left in 2022 and describe their relationship as work friends rather than close companions.

How it is being reported

• The challenge that brought Nunes out of retirementAmanda Nunes says the prospect of fighting Kayla Harrison and putting women's MMA back in the spotlight convinced her to come out of retirement to fight at UFC 334 on Saturday.BBC Sport · 14 Nov, 07:00
• Kayla Harrison, Amanda Nunes feel weight of historic UFC 334 showdown at MSGKayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes never truly were buddies.New York Post · 14 Nov, 05:11

In this story: Kayla Harrison · Amanda Nunes · Madison Square Garden · UFC · American Top Team · Julianna Pena

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