Amanda Nunes ends retirement to fight Kayla Harrison at UFC 334 in New York
Amanda Nunes will return from retirement to face Kayla Harrison at UFC 334 at New York's Madison Square Garden on Saturday, a contest being described by pundits as one of the biggest women's fights in UFC history.
Nunes left the UFC in 2023 as the most successful women's mixed martial artist of all time and a former featherweight and bantamweight champion; she is the only woman to hold UFC titles in two weight classes simultaneously and the only fighter to defend both belts. During her career she beat Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg and Valentina Shevchenko, was dethroned by Julianna Pena before regaining the title, and said she had run out of challengers. Nunes credited Harrison's arrival in the UFC for reigniting her interest: "When Kayla signed with the UFC and I saw the division with some new girls it excited me," said Nunes. "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."
Kayla Harrison is a two-time Olympic gold medallist in judo who became a two-time PFL lightweight world champion after transitioning to MMA, joined the UFC in 2024 and won the bantamweight title in only her third fight with the promotion. The pair are friends and former team-mates at American Top Team before Nunes left in 2022, and their originally scheduled January meeting was postponed after Harrison required neck and spinal surgery. Harrison is 36 and Nunes is 38.
Nunes said she returns with confidence and insisted on her status going into the bout: "I'm not here today as a challenger, I'm here today as a double champion," said Nunes. "I needed a break and did it at the right time for my mind, body and soul. "There's no hate. It's about the challenge Kayla brings and how great this will be for women's MMA. We want to prove who the best girl is in the cage."
Statistically, Nunes has won 23 of her 28 fights since her 2008 debut, with 13 victories by knockout, and holds multiple records including 11 wins in title fights—the most for a woman in UFC history alongside Valentina Shevchenko. She has headlined major events such as UFC 200, where she beat Miesha Tate, reclaimed the belt at UFC 277 and last fought Irene Aldana as a headliner. Since Nunes left the sport, only one of 43 UFC numbered events has been headlined by women, Natalia Silva's win over Wang Cong at UFC 332 in October.
Nunes said part of her return is motivated by a desire to bolster women's MMA after time away and by family life during her break: "I got upset when I left because I wanted to see the division grow. Back in the day, we put in so much work to this division," said Nunes. "This is my work here, I want to make women's MMA great, I want the UFC proud of us, so when I saw it slowing down I was a little sad and I got the itch. I want to jump back in and bring it back again." She has spent more time with her partner Nina and her two daughters during the break but admits she has "missed being a fighter" and intends to continue fighting "until my body tells me".
The rescheduled bout between 36-year-old Harrison and 38-year-old Nunes will take place at UFC 334 at New York's Madison Square Garden on Saturday.