Kayla Harrison retained the Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight title with a fourth-round submission victory over Amanda Nunes in the main event of UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday. The American fighter relied on her elite grappling to overcome one of mixed martial arts’ most accomplished competitors, while Ciryl Gane also defended the heavyweight championship by unanimous decision against Josh Hokit. Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo champion, faced Nunes after the Brazilian’s absence from competition since June 2023, and the 36-year-old champion turned the bout in her favor after absorbing early striking pressure.
Key Takeaways: Harrison improved to 20 wins and one defeat and finished Nunes with a rear-naked choke in the fourth round; Nunes, now 23-6, removed her gloves and did not give a post-fight interview; Gane swept the scorecards 48-47, 48-47, 48-47 to retain the heavyweight title in his first defense.
The event carried significance beyond a routine title defense because it matched Harrison’s grappling pedigree against Nunes’s legacy as a two-division champion. Nunes initially looked sharp, avoiding some takedown attempts and landing strikes, but Harrison’s judo-based control gradually took over. The challenger spent extended periods on the bottom in a scarf-hold position, and Harrison later used trips, tosses and ground control before securing the choke. The result underscored how Harrison’s Olympic background translates into MMA dominance, while Nunes’s return after a long layoff raised questions about timing and ring rust.
“I think I’m still in shock,” Harrison said after the fight. “It feels surreal. Sometimes I can’t believe my life. I’m just really grateful,” she said, addressing Nunes. Harrison, who underwent surgery on herniated disks in her neck in January, said she was unsure what would come next, but thanked the crowd: “New York City, I love you.” Nunes took off her gloves but was not available for a post-fight interview, leaving her immediate plans unclear.
In the co-main event, Gane retained his heavyweight title after a bruising five-round contest fought at a frenetic pace. The French champion recovered quickly from an early takedown, countered Hokit’s pressure with jabs, uppercuts and an overhand right, and then dominated later rounds with body kicks, knees and short uppercuts. Hokit had strong second and third rounds, including clinch elbows and a takedown, and flashed a middle finger at the bell, but Gane opened a cut above Hokit’s left eye in the fifth and controlled the striking exchanges. “It was an amazing fight,” Gane said, while Hokit added: “Resilience builds character.”
Harrison’s next opponent and date remain unannounced, and Nunes’s glove removal intensified speculation about her future. Gane’s successful first defense positions him for further heavyweight challenges, while UFC 334 leaves both divisions with clear champions and unresolved challenger questions. The promotion is expected to clarify its next title pairings in the coming weeks.
Source: www.aljazeera.com