Kayla Harrison Submits Amanda Nunes at UFC 334: Result, Round & What's Next
Kayla Harrison submitted Amanda Nunes with a rear-naked choke at 1:29 of round four at UFC 334, retaining her bantamweight title at Madison Square Garden.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / The White House
NEW YORK — Kayla Harrison retained the UFC women’s bantamweight title on Saturday night, submitting Amanda Nunes with a rear-naked choke at 1:29 of the fourth round in the co-main event of UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden. The finish ended Nunes’ comeback after nearly three and a half years away and settled the biggest women’s fight in the promotion’s history.
Harrison, the two-time Olympic judo gold medallist, improved to 20-1 in mixed martial arts and 4-0 inside the UFC. Nunes, the former two-division champion, fell to 23-6. The heavyweight title fight between Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit closed the card after the co-main event.
Key Takeaways
- Kayla Harrison submitted Amanda Nunes by rear-naked choke at 1:29 of round four at UFC 334 in New York.
- Harrison retains the women’s bantamweight title and moves to 20-1 in mixed martial arts, 4-0 in the UFC.
- Nunes lost in her first fight in nearly three and a half years, falling to 23-6.
How Kayla Harrison Submitted Amanda Nunes at UFC 334
Harrison entered as the favourite, listed at -175 on the UFC’s official event page. Nunes landed a couple of hard shots early, but Harrison scored a dominating takedown and took the first round on control. Nunes answered in the second, and Harrison replied in the third with an elbow that cut Nunes on the forehead.
The finish came early in the fourth. Nunes pressed forward and landed a right hand, but Harrison caught a kick and dragged her to the canvas. When Nunes tried to get back to her feet, Harrison took her back, locked in the rear-naked choke and forced the tap at 1:29 of the round. It was the defining win of Harrison’s title reign.
Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes: Full UFC 334 Result and Main Card Results
Harrison won the title in June, submitting Julianna Pena in the second round at UFC 316, and the Nunes fight was her first defence. Nunes had retired as a two-division champion and had not fought in nearly three and a half years before accepting the comeback bout, which the UFC billed as one of the biggest women’s fights it has ever staged.
| UFC 334 main card result | Method | Round / time |
|---|---|---|
| Kayla Harrison def. Amanda Nunes (women’s bantamweight title) | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Round 4, 1:29 |
| Caio Borralho def. Yousri Belgaroui | Unanimous decision (30-27 x3) | 3 rounds |
| Uros Medic vs. Kevin Holland | Majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28) | 3 rounds |
| Luis Gurule def. Bilal Hasan | Split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 rounds |
| Stephen Thompson def. Charles Radtke | TKO (kick) | Round 3, 2:54 |
Earlier on the card, Caio Borralho swept all three scorecards against Yousri Belgaroui, Uros Medic and Kevin Holland fought to a majority draw, and Luis Gurule edged Bilal Hasan by split decision. Stephen Thompson stopped Charles Radtke with a kick in the third round. Wales stunned the All Blacks for their first win in 73 years on Saturday, and Colorado stunned No. 14 Houston 42-32 in college football.
What’s Next for Kayla Harrison After UFC 334
The UFC has not announced a date or an opponent for Harrison’s next title defence. Harrison’s win leaves her with a short list of contenders rather than one clear challenger.
For Nunes, the future is unclear. She had not announced her plans immediately after the fight, and the UFC has not said whether she intends to fight again. The full UFC 334 results and event details are listed on the UFC’s official UFC 334 event page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Kayla Harrison beat Amanda Nunes at UFC 334?
Harrison submitted Nunes with a rear-naked choke at 1:29 of the fourth round. She caught a Nunes kick, took her down, took her back and locked in the choke to force the tap.
What round did Kayla Harrison submit Amanda Nunes in?
The fourth round. The official time was 1:29 of round four at Madison Square Garden in New York.
How long was Amanda Nunes retired before UFC 334?
Nunes had not fought in nearly three and a half years before UFC 334. She retired as a two-division champion and returned to challenge Harrison for the women’s bantamweight title.
What is Kayla Harrison’s record after UFC 334?
Harrison is 20-1 in mixed martial arts and 4-0 in the UFC after beating Nunes. She won the title by submitting Julianna Pena at UFC 316 in June.
The UFC has not announced a date or opponent for Harrison’s next title defence.
