The UFC delivered a historic night at UFC 334 as Kayla Harrison successfully defended her women’s bantamweight championship against returning legend Amanda Nunes. In one of the most anticipated fights in women’s mixed martial arts, Harrison submitted Nunes with a rear-naked choke in the fourth round at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The highly anticipated Nunes vs Harrison matchup brought together two of the biggest names in women’s MMA. Harrison entered the Octagon looking to establish her dominance as champion, while Nunes returned after a three-year absence with hopes of reclaiming the spotlight.
However, Harrison’s wrestling, judo and ground control proved decisive. Despite several dangerous striking moments from Nunes, the champion eventually secured the submission victory at 1:29 of the fourth round.
Nunes vs Harrison: Kayla Harrison Wins by Fourth-Round Submission
The Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes fight headlined the UFC 334 co-main event and lived up to its enormous expectations.
Harrison used her Olympic-level grappling skills to control much of the contest. Whenever the fighters entered a clinch or moved to the ground, Harrison demonstrated a clear advantage over the former two-division champion.
Nunes had opportunities to change the direction of the fight through her striking. She landed several significant shots and visibly hurt Harrison at different moments. However, she repeatedly engaged in grappling exchanges rather than consistently using her striking advantage.
That approach allowed Harrison to dictate the pace and position of the contest.
After surviving the first three rounds, Nunes eventually found herself in a dangerous position during the fourth. Harrison secured her back and locked in a rear-naked choke, forcing Nunes to tap at 1:29.
With the victory, Harrison successfully retained her UFC women’s bantamweight championship and improved her professional MMA record to 20-1.
Nunes, meanwhile, suffered a submission defeat and moved to 23-6.
UFC 334 Fight Result: Harrison vs Nunes
Here are the important details from the championship matchup:
| Fight Detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Event | UFC 334 |
| Location | Madison Square Garden, New York |
| Division | Women’s Bantamweight |
| Champion | Kayla Harrison |
| Challenger | Amanda Nunes |
| Winner | Kayla Harrison |
| Method | Rear-naked choke submission |
| Round | Round 4 |
| Time | 1:29 |
| Harrison’s record | 20-1 |
| Nunes’ record | 23-6 |
The result represents a significant achievement for Harrison, who defeated one of the most decorated fighters in UFC history.
Amanda Nunes’ Return Ends in a Disappointing Loss
Amanda Nunes entered UFC 334 after spending approximately three years away from competition.
The Brazilian superstar had previously established herself as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history. Her resume includes victories over several legendary opponents, including Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Valentina Shevchenko, Miesha Tate and Holly Holm.
Nunes previously held both the UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight championships. She announced her retirement after defeating Irene Aldana in June 2023.
Her decision to return created enormous interest across the UFC community, particularly because she was challenging Harrison, the champion who now holds the bantamweight title.
However, the Amanda Nunes fight against Harrison exposed the challenges of returning after an extended break.
Nunes showed flashes of her striking ability, but Harrison repeatedly brought the fight to the ground. The Brazilian could not prevent the champion from establishing dominant grappling positions.
The fourth-round submission marked the first major setback of her comeback.
When Was Amanda Nunes’ Last Fight Before UFC 334?
Before facing Kayla Harrison, Amanda Nunes’ last fight was against Irene Aldana at UFC 289 on June 10, 2023.
Nunes won that contest by unanimous decision and subsequently announced her retirement from professional MMA.
Her UFC 334 appearance marked her return after roughly three years away from the Octagon.
Did Amanda Nunes Retire?
Nunes previously retired in 2023 following her victory over Aldana. However, she returned to competition for UFC 334 to challenge Kayla Harrison.
Following her submission loss, questions about her future in the sport are likely to continue. A new retirement announcement should not be assumed without confirmation from Nunes herself.
Kayla Harrison’s UFC Career Continues to Grow
Kayla Harrison has established herself as one of the leading fighters in women’s MMA.
A two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, Harrison brought an exceptional grappling background into professional mixed martial arts. Her ability to control opponents, secure takedowns and threaten submissions has made her a difficult matchup.
Her victory over Amanda Nunes represents one of the biggest accomplishments of her professional career.
Before UFC 334, Harrison already had an impressive record and was considered a major force in the women’s bantamweight division.
The Nunes fight also demonstrated how effectively she could use her grappling against an opponent with extensive championship experience.
Following the victory, Harrison improved to 20-1 professionally.
During her post-fight interview, she also addressed questions about her future, suggesting that she still had important decisions to make.
Kayla Harrison Neck Surgery: What Happened Before UFC 334?
One of the major talking points before Harrison vs Nunes was Harrison’s recovery from neck surgery.
The injury and subsequent surgery raised questions about whether she would be able to return to competition at her previous level.
Coming back from surgery and preparing for a championship defense against someone with Nunes’ experience was a significant challenge.
However, Harrison successfully completed her return and demonstrated her grappling strength throughout the fight.
Her performance at UFC 334 showed that she could still compete at the highest level following her recovery.
Kayla Harrison Weight, Weigh-In and Weight Cut
The Kayla Harrison weigh-in and weight-cut process attracted attention because the fight took place in the women’s bantamweight division.
The UFC bantamweight division has a championship limit of 135 pounds. Fighters must meet the required limit during the official weigh-in process to compete for the title.
Harrison’s physical strength and grappling ability have frequently been discussed when evaluating her matchups.
Questions surrounding Kayla Harrison’s weight cut, walk-around weight and overall weight management are also popular among MMA fans.
However, an exact walk-around weight or detailed weight-cut figure was not provided in the available UFC 334 coverage.
Her performance against Nunes ultimately showed that her strength and wrestling remained major advantages inside the Octagon.
Who Did Kayla Harrison Lose To?
One of the frequently searched questions following UFC 334 is: Who did Kayla Harrison lose to?
Harrison’s professional MMA record now stands at 20-1.
Her only professional defeat came against Larissa Pacheco in their 2022 PFL championship rematch.
Pacheco defeated Harrison by unanimous decision, ending her unbeaten professional run at the time.
Harrison subsequently returned to winning ways and continued building her reputation before joining the UFC.
Her victory over Nunes adds another important achievement to her career.
Where Is Kayla Harrison From?
Kayla Harrison is from Middletown, Ohio, in the United States.
Before becoming a UFC champion, she built her reputation through international judo competition.
Her biggest achievements in the sport came at the Olympic Games, where she won gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics.
That background helped develop the grappling skills that have become central to her MMA career.
Nunes vs Harrison Prediction: What Decided the Fight?
Before UFC 334, the Nunes vs Harrison prediction debate largely centered on two different fighting styles.
Nunes possessed extensive striking experience, knockout power and championship-level experience. Harrison, on the other hand, had a significant advantage in Olympic judo and wrestling-based grappling.
The fight ultimately followed a pattern that favored Harrison.
Nunes had some success on the feet, but Harrison repeatedly took the contest into grappling exchanges. Once the champion secured dominant positions, Nunes struggled to escape.
The fourth-round rear-naked choke demonstrated the importance of Harrison’s ground game.
The result also highlighted how difficult it can be for a returning fighter to deal with an elite grappler after a lengthy absence.
UFC 334 Results: Other Major Fight Outcomes
The Nunes-Harrison matchup was not the only major story from UFC 334.
Several other fighters delivered memorable performances at Madison Square Garden.
| Fight | Result |
|---|---|
| Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes | Harrison won by fourth-round submission |
| Caio Borralho vs Yousri Belgaroui | Borralho won by unanimous decision |
| Uros Medic vs Kevin Holland | Majority draw |
| Luis Gurule vs Bilal Hasan | Gurule won by split decision |
| Stephen Thompson vs Charles Radtke | Thompson won by third-round KO |
| Chris Duncan vs Drew Dober | Duncan won by unanimous decision |
| Terrance McKinney vs Jim Miller | McKinney won by first-round KO |
| Bia Mesquita vs Macy Chiasson | Mesquita won by first-round submission |
Stephen Thompson also delivered a memorable performance in what was announced as his retirement fight, defeating Charles Radtke with a spectacular spinning wheel kick in the third round.
Meanwhile, Caio Borralho earned a unanimous decision victory over Yousri Belgaroui.
The event featured several finishes and competitive matchups, making UFC 334 an important night for the promotion.
What’s Next for Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison?
The future of both fighters will be an important talking point following UFC 334.
For Harrison, the immediate priority is deciding what comes next after successfully defending her championship. Her post-fight comments suggested that she would take time to consider her future.
At 20-1, she has already achieved considerable success in professional MMA, and the victory over Nunes adds another major accomplishment to her resume.
For Amanda Nunes, the defeat raises questions about whether she will continue competing or consider another retirement.
Despite the loss, her achievements remain significant. She has defeated some of the greatest names in women’s MMA and held UFC championships in two divisions.
Whether she chooses another fight or steps away from competition, her legacy remains an important part of UFC history.
Final Thoughts
The UFC 334 showdown between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes produced a major result in women’s MMA.
Harrison successfully defended her bantamweight championship by submitting Nunes with a rear-naked choke at 1:29 of the fourth round.
Although Nunes showed moments of striking success, Harrison’s superior grappling control ultimately decided the contest.
The victory improved Harrison’s record to 20-1 and gave her one of the biggest wins of her career. For Nunes, the result marked a difficult ending to her long-awaited return after three years away from the sport.
UFC fans will now be watching closely to see what both fighters decide to do next.
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