HarrisonvsNunes (Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes)

Context

Kayla Harrison (19-1), a two-time Olympic judo champion, defends the bantamweight title against a legend coming out of retirement: Amanda Nunes (23-5), UFC Hall of Famer, who hung up her gloves in June 2023 and hasn't fought since.

The fight was originally set for January at UFC 324, but Harrison had to withdraw after being diagnosed with herniated discs in her neck that required surgery. She has admitted she doubted she'd be the same again, but says she is fully recovered.

Technical keys

• Judo vs striking: Harrison has won 8 of her 19 fights by submission and is elite in the clinch and on the mat. Nunes is one of the great strikers in women's MMA history: 13 wins by KO/TKO.
• Distance: Nunes has the longer reach (69 vs 66 inches). If she keeps Harrison away and punishes her entries, she has a real chance; if Harrison grabs hold, the fight changes completely.
• Rust: more than three years out for Nunes, at 37. For Harrison, the question is how her neck responds after surgery.
• Nunes on the mat: besides her power, she is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, which gives her tools if the fight hits the floor.

How each can win

Harrison: close distance without taking damage, get the grip and takedowns from the clinch, and wear Nunes down with top control until the submission or ground and pound comes.

Nunes: move, strike first and punish every grappling attempt. One clean shot from the Brazilian can change everything at any moment.

What the experts say

Harrison is the favorite in most predictions and among fans. The big unknown is which version of Nunes shows up after so long. Ariel Helwani has called it a possible "double retirement fight", and Chris Weidman describes it as the classic clash between a striker and an elite grappler.