The biggest fight in women's MMA history is finally happening — and it is happening at the Garden.
Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison are scheduled to meet inside the Octagon at UFC 334, with the UFC bantamweight championship on the line, on November 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Two of the most accomplished fighters in women's MMA history will share the cage, and the stakes could not be higher.
The fight was originally scheduled for UFC 324 in January, but Harrison was forced to withdraw after undergoing neck surgery. The delay only added another chapter to an already intriguing matchup, with the champion now returning to defend her title against the former two-division UFC champion.
Harrison (19-1) makes the first defense of her bantamweight title against Nunes (23-5), the former two-division UFC champion returning after nearly three and a half years away from competition. The matchup has everything: championship stakes, Olympic-level grappling, elite striking and a history between two former training partners.
This rivalry has been brewing for years. Nunes and Harrison previously trained together at American Top Team in Florida, where their relationship became increasingly strained as Harrison made it clear she wanted to challenge the Brazilian. Harrison eventually moved to the UFC after establishing herself as one of the most dominant fighters outside the promotion, while Nunes continued building her legacy as champion before announcing her retirement in June 2023. Their paths finally crossed again after Harrison submitted Julianna Peña at UFC 316 to capture the bantamweight title. Nunes entered the Octagon for a face-off, making it clear she wanted to return for the championship.
The styles make this a fascinating clash. Harrison's two Olympic gold medals in judo, won at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Games, tell only part of the story. She has successfully transferred those skills into MMA, using trips, throws and clinch control to put opponents on the ground, where she applies pressure, advances position and looks for submissions. Her ability to dictate where a fight takes place is one of her biggest advantages.
Nunes presents a different kind of danger. Her explosive boxing, powerful kicks and ability to finish opponents make her one of the most dangerous strikers the division has seen. And it would be a mistake to approach this as a simple grappler-versus-striker contest. Nunes has spent years developing her wrestling, takedown defense and submission game, and she has faced some of the best grapplers in women's MMA. Her ability to defend takedowns, create separation and punish opponents with heavy punches could make Harrison think twice about repeatedly pursuing the clinch.
For Harrison, this is a chance to establish her own legacy. She became a two-time PFL tournament champion at lightweight before making her promotional debut at UFC 300, where she submitted former bantamweight champion Holly Holm. After victories over Ketlen Vieira and Julianna Peña, she finally captured UFC gold. But beating Nunes would represent a different level of achievement — a victory over one of the greatest female fighters in history would strengthen her championship credentials and give her the signature win her UFC career deserves.
For Nunes, this is a shot at reclaiming the throne she once ruled. She retired after defeating Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023, leaving behind a legacy that included championship reigns at bantamweight and featherweight. During her career, she defeated an extraordinary collection of champions, including Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Valentina Shevchenko and Holly Holm. Now, at 38, she returns for a chance to become champion again. The biggest question is whether the time away has preserved her abilities or whether Harrison's activity and physical pressure will prove too much.
The DAOS take: this is the fight the sport has been waiting on for years, and MSG is the right stage for it. A returning legend against a reigning champion who has never lost the feeling that she is the one to beat. Nunes has the striking to end it in a blink, Harrison has the grappling to drag it into deep water. On November 14, we finally find out who gets the last word in a rivalry that has taken years to reach the Octagon. Do not miss it.
Sources: Athlon Sports
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