Kayla Harrison submits returning Amanda Nunes to retain UFC bantamweight title

Kayla Harrison retained the UFC women's bantamweight title at UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden in New York. She beat Amanda Nunes by rear-naked choke submission in the fourth round. In the main event, Ciryl Gane retained the heavyweight title with a unanimous decision over Josh Hokit.

Nunes, 38, from Brazil, was fighting for the first time since retiring in 2023. She is a former two-division UFC champion who held the bantamweight and featherweight titles. Harrison, 36, is an American and a two-time Olympic judo gold medallist. She competed in the PFL before joining the UFC. She had neck surgery before the bout.

Nunes had the advantage in the standing exchanges but pursued grappling. Harrison took control on the ground, including through takedowns. According to ESPN, Nunes bloodied Harrison's lip with a punch and took her down in Round 3, but Harrison reversed position. ESPN reported that the submission came at 1 minute, 29 seconds of Round 4.

Harrison's record now stands at 20 wins and 1 loss. Nunes's record shows six defeats. According to ESPN, Harrison won the title in June 2025 and had not fought since. ESPN reported she withdrew from a planned January bout with Nunes to have surgery on herniated discs in her neck.

Gane made his first defence of the heavyweight title. He was elevated to champion after Tom Aspinall vacated the belt in September. According to BBC Sport, the bout set a record of 383 significant strikes for a UFC heavyweight bout, and Gane poked Hokit in the eyes. BBC Sport reported the result sets up a rematch with Aspinall, should Aspinall fully recover from an eye injury. The reports do not include the judges' scorecards.

Stephen Thompson beat Charles Radtke after landing a spinning kick. BBC Sport reported that Thompson, 43, retired after the bout.

What is disputed

BBC Sport describes Nunes as Harrison's friend and former training partner at American Top Team. ESPN reports that coaches at the gym say the two did little training together. BBC Sport reports that Harrison said she was considering retirement. ESPN describes her as noncommittal.

What each side says

ESPN quoted Harrison as saying: "Sometimes I can't believe my life. I was sexually abused at a young age, and statistically I'm not supposed to be here." BBC Sport quoted her as saying: "I've got a lot of decisions to make when I get home. Every time I make weight I say never again." She also said she had injuries to heal from, according to BBC Sport. BBC Sport reported that unnamed critics said Hokit did not deserve the title fight. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include any statement from Nunes after the fight.

Analysis

The result leaves the bantamweight division's immediate future unclear. Harrison has spoken of difficulty making weight and of decisions ahead, and the outlets reviewed describe her stance differently. Possible paths include another title defence, a change of weight class or retirement; the reports do not say which. Nunes's plans are also unknown. At heavyweight, a Gane–Aspinall rematch has been reported as a possible next step, but it would depend on Aspinall's recovery, and neither Aspinall nor the UFC has commented in the reports reviewed. Each scenario remains open.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.