Kayla Harrison is three days away from the biggest fight of her career. The UFC women’s bantamweight champion defends her title against Amanda Nunes in the co-main event of UFC 334 on Saturday, 14 November, at Madison Square Garden in New York, in a fight that has been nearly a year in the making.
For the latest celebrity and fight-world updates, visit the Celebrity Hub homepage.
Kayla Harrison Latest News: Fight Week Is Here
UFC 334 fight week is officially underway, and Harrison and Nunes kicked it off with an iconic face-off in Times Square in New York City on Tuesday. The two former American Top Team stablemates stood toe to toe in the middle of Manhattan as fans and cameras crowded around them, three days before they meet inside the Octagon.
Both women will appear together at Thursday’s press conference at the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden, with the ceremonial weigh-ins following on Friday from 5pm ET. The main card begins at 9pm ET on Paramount+, which is 2am UTC on Sunday, 15 November.
A Fight Delayed by Neck Surgery
Harrison and Nunes were first booked to fight in January at UFC 324, but the bout was pushed back by around ten months after Harrison suffered five herniated discs in her neck and underwent a two-level neck fusion. Harrison has spoken openly about the layoff, describing it as “a little bit of a dark place” and admitting the recovery took far longer than she expected.
“I didn’t know how I could not be in pain 24/7,” Harrison said at UFC 334 media day. “So, the recovery was a lot longer than I anticipated. I had never had spinal neck surgery before.” She added that she now feels fully fit, crediting her faith, her team, and daily consistency for getting her through rehabilitation.
The extra time, she says, was ultimately for the best. Harrison is now making her first title defence after winning the belt in June 2025, submitting Julianna Pena by kimura with five seconds left in the second round at UFC 316.
Nunes Returns After Three Years Away
Amanda Nunes, 38, returns to the Octagon after more than three years away. Her last fight was at UFC 289 in June 2023, when she beat Irene Aldana by unanimous decision before laying both of her belts and her gloves on the canvas and announcing her retirement.
Saturday will be 1,253 days since that night. Nunes is the former two-division champion and the only bantamweight champion Harrison has never beaten. She never lost the title inside the Octagon, and she is coming back to reclaim a belt she believes is still hers.
No Bad Blood, Just Competition
Despite their shared history at American Top Team and the long build-up, Harrison insists there is no hatred between the two women. “There is no hate at all,” she told reporters during media day. “Zero hate. This isn’t a Colby-Masvidal. This is not a bad blood grudge fight. I just want to be the best.”
Nunes has taken a similar tone, and the mutual respect has only added to the sense that this is a pure sporting contest between two of the greatest female fighters of all time. Harrison has also described Nunes as her dream opponent and said she is grateful the fight is finally happening.
The Weight Cut Question
One storyline dominating fight week is Harrison’s weight cut. The two-time Olympic judo gold medallist has a demanding cut to bantamweight, and some fighters and coaches have questioned how long she can sustain her grappling after it. Former champion Cris Cyborg, whom Nunes knocked out in the first round in December 2018, said the outcome could hinge on whether Nunes can stop Harrison’s takedowns.
Her coaches have played down the concern. American Top Team coach Marcos said Harrison was lighter two weeks out than she had been at the same point before the original booking, and that she is looking strong and very motivated in training.
The Odds and the Prediction
The betting market makes Harrison a clear favourite at around -200, with Nunes at about +165. But the professionals are split: four of the six pro fighters polled by BJPenn.com ahead of the fight picked Nunes to pull off the upset and reclaim the title.
Harrison comes in at 19-1 in MMA and 3-0 in the UFC. Nunes is the greatest women’s fighter many fans have ever seen. On Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, under Ciryl Gane versus Josh Hokit in the main event for the heavyweight title, one of them will be proved right.
How to Watch UFC 334
UFC 334 takes place on Saturday, 14 November, at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card starts at 9pm ET on Paramount+, and at 10pm UK time. Harrison versus Nunes is the co-main event, and it is the fight the whole MMA world will be watching.