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‘Lioness’ Nunes returns for epic Harrison showdown at UFC 334
Amanda Nunes is returning to the UFC after more than three years away to face Kayla Harrison for the bantamweight title. The bout could reshape the debate over the greatest women’s fighter, as Nunes seeks to reclaim a belt she once dominated and Harrison aims to establish her own legacy.
Nunes, 38, won the bantamweight title in 2016 and later added the featherweight crown, with notable victories over Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg. Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo gold medallist and former PFL lightweight champion, won the UFC bantamweight belt by beating Julianna Peña. Their fight at Madison Square Garden was postponed from January after Harrison had surgery for herniated neck discs; Harrison says she would offer Nunes a featherweight rematch if she wins.
In short
- Nunes returns after more than three years away.
- She faces champion Kayla Harrison for the bantamweight title.
- Harrison has proposed a featherweight rematch if she wins.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Nunes has a strong claim to the greater legacy: she held titles in two divisions and defeated leading names, including Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg. A successful return against the reigning champion would show that her record still merits comparison with the best, despite her time away.
The case against
Harrison can argue that her Olympic judo achievements, success in the PFL and capture of the UFC bantamweight title establish an exceptional record of their own. Beating Nunes would add a defining victory over a former champion and strengthen her case to build a legacy on her own terms.