A fight of this magnitude could only go down at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
MMA icon Amanda Nunes makes her long-awaited return to the Octagon on Saturday, challenging Kayla Harrison for the women’s bantamweight title in the co-main event of UFC 334: Gane vs. Hokit at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Harrison (19–1, 3–0 UFC) hasn’t fought since capturing the 135-pound title with a second-round submission win over Julianna Pena at UFC 316 in June 2025. That victory played a central role in luring Nunes (23–5 MMA, 16–2 UFC) out of retirement, returning to the cage for the first time since defeating Irene Aldana via unanimous decision at UFC 289 in June 2023.
The blockbuster bout was originally slated for UFC 324 — the promotion’s Paramount+ debut — in January, but Harrison withdrew due to a neck injury that required surgery. Ten months later, the women’s MMA titans will finally collide at the Center of the Universe.
Harrison enters as a -180 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Nunes is a +150 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 3.5 rounds.
Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes Fight Preview
Kayla Harrison (C)
- 19–1 MMA (3–0 UFC)
- 6–0 (T)KO
- 8–0 SUB
At long last, Kayla Harrison has an opportunity to prove herself against the very best. The former two-time PFL champion made the jump to the UFC in 2024, capturing the promotion’s bantamweight title from Julianna Pena just over a year later — teeing up a superfight with the returned Hall of Famer Amanda Nunes. But a gruesome neck injury — and subsequent surgery — stalled Harrison’s progress; Saturday night marks her first fight in 525 days.
If either the serious surgery or extended layoff is nagging at Harrison, she certainly hasn’t shown it during the fight’s buildup. The Ohio native, 36, is feeling “more confident than I’ve ever felt” ahead of UFC 334, looking to employ her signature, smothering grappling. A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Harrison has bulldozed her UFC competition en route to the title — she’ll now attempt to follow a similar blueprint as she defends it for the first time against the promotion’s G.O.A.T.
Amanda Nunes
- 23–5 MMA (16–2 UFC)
- 13–2 (T)KO
- 4–2 SUB
After riding off into the sunset more than three years ago, Amanda Nunes is coming back to add one more stamp to her unmatched legacy. The undisputed G.O.A.T. of women’s MMA cited burnout as the catalyst for her initial retirement in June 2023, but time away from the cage and the emergence of a formidable foe in Kayla Harrison revived her competitive drive.
Even at 38, “The Lioness” is as well-rounded and as dangerous as they come. The former two-division champion and UFC Hall of Famer is tied with Anderson Silva and Valentina Shevchenko for the fourth-most title fight wins in promotional history (11). She’s won 14 of her last 15 fights since 2015, a torrid run featuring victories over Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Holly Holm, and Cris Cyborg. Nunes is an explosive striker — and will have a considerable three-inch reach advantage over Harrison — and is equipped with stellar takedown defense (82 percent). She’ll hope it holds all these years later as she tries to keep the fight in her wheelhouse, neutralizing Harrison’s high-level grappling.
Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes Pick, Best Bet
Despite being away from the sport for 41 months, Amanda Nunes is still Amanda Nunes. “The Lioness” is still a live dog to upset Kayla Harrison, who has also been shelved for an extended period due to major surgery. Nunes returns with far superior striking — bolstered by a three-inch reach advantage — and strong enough defensive grappling to hold her own on the ground against the Olympic judoka. At plus odds, there’s serious value in backing the G.O.A.T. to do what she does best.
