Heraldo de Madrid - Kayla Harrison Defeats Amanda Nunes via Submission at UFC 334

Kayla Harrison, already established as an Olympic icon through her decorated judo career, secured a defining victory in mixed martial arts by submitting Amanda Nunes in the fourth round of their women’s bantamweight title fight at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

Harrison, who previously trained with Nunes at American Top Team, applied a rear-naked choke to force the tap from the returning UFC Hall of Famer. The win marks Harrison’s first successful defense of the title and concludes a bout that was originally scheduled ten months prior but was delayed by Harrison’s decision to undergo neck surgery.

"I am still in shock," Harrison said in her initial remarks inside the cage following the victory.

The event drew a crowd at the iconic New York venue that initially rallied behind Nunes, who retired in 2023 before announcing her return to competition in June 2025. The audience’s support for the Brazilian fighter was perhaps influenced by Harrison’s known fandom of the Boston Red Sox, a team with historical ties to the region.

Nunes utilized her potent striking arsenal in the early stages of the fight, establishing dominance through distance. However, Harrison’s world-class judo background began to shift the momentum. In the opening frame, Harrison executed a throw that transitioned into a crucifix position, where she landed unblocked punches to secure the round on the judges' scorecards.

By the second round, Harrison avoided engaging in striking exchanges, instead opting to clinch with Nunes. The former two-division UFC champion managed to push Harrison against the fence and secured a body-lock takedown, keeping the fight off the mat. Nunes continued to press her advantage, but Harrison countered by throwing Nunes again and working toward another pinned-arm crucifix. Low-impact strikes to the head and attempts at an arm lock allowed Harrison to take control of the frame.

The pace slowed in the third round as Nunes secured a takedown and passed to mount position. However, Harrison’s back pressed against the fence limited Nunes’ offensive options. After both fighters regained their footing, Nunes executed another takedown in the center of the Octagon, taking Harrison’s back before a reversal returned Harrison to a dominant top position. Harrison landed a significant elbow strike, potentially establishing a commanding lead on the scorecards heading into the final round.

The decisive moment arrived when Nunes lost her balance during an exchange on her feet. Harrison pounced on "The Lioness," locking in the rear-naked choke with precision. Nunes tapped out immediately, unable to escape the hold.

Following the bout, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan asked Harrison about her future in the sport given the physical toll of the weight cut to 135 pounds and her recent surgery. "I’ve got a lot of decisions to make when I get home," Harrison replied. "We’ll see."

The preliminary card concluded with Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson delivering a spinning wheel kick knockout against Charles Radtke. The 43-year-old kickboxing standout, known for his sportsmanship, shared an emotional moment in the cage with Rogan after the victory. This fight marked Thompson’s return to Madison Square Garden, ten years after his memorable Fight of the Night draw against Tyron Woodley during the UFC’s debut at the venue.

In other undercard action, Jim Miller extended his UFC record to 48 fights but was stopped by Terrance McKinney via TKO in the first round at 1:53. McKinney had missed weight by more than four pounds for their lightweight contest. Queens native Jared Gordon lost a close unanimous decision against Melquizael Costa in another lightweight bout on the undercard.

J.Lozano--HdM