Amanda Nunes returns from retirement: everything about her comeback against Kayla Harrison at UFC 334
'The Lioness' retired in 2023 as a two-division champion and entered the Hall of Fame. Now she's back, three years later, to take the bantamweight belt from Kayla Harrison at Madison Square Garden.
By Equipo La Jaula Props · · 1 min read
Photos: MMAnytt, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
Amanda Nunes, considered by many the greatest female fighter in UFC history, returns to the cage more than three years after retiring. She'll do it on November 14, 2026 at UFC 334, at Madison Square Garden in New York, and for nothing less than the bantamweight title against champion Kayla Harrison.
Why she retired
Nunes announced her retirement on June 10, 2023, right after beating Irene Aldana by unanimous decision at UFC 289. She left as champion with a historic résumé: two-division champion (bantamweight and featherweight) and a 23-5 record. In 2025 she was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
The long road back
- June 2025: Nunes announces she's returning to face the winner of Harrison vs. Peña.
- June 2025: Kayla Harrison wins the title with a second-round kimura against Julianna Peña.
- January 2026: Harrison vs. Nunes, scheduled for UFC 324, falls through because Harrison needs surgery for herniated discs in her neck.
- November 2026: the fight is set as the UFC 334 co-main event.
The opponent: Kayla Harrison
Harrison (19-1), 36, is the first woman to win both an Olympic gold medal and a UFC title: she was Olympic judo champion at London 2012 and Rio 2016. After neck surgery, she admitted she doubted she'd be the same again, but says she has fully recovered.
Keys to the fight
- Style: the classic clash between the great striker (Nunes has 13 KO/TKO wins) and an elite judoka (Harrison has 8 submission wins).
- Rust: Nunes, 37, will have been out for more than three years.
- Harrison's neck: it will be her first fight after surgery.
Who is the favorite?
Harrison is the favorite in most predictions and among fans. Ariel Helwani has described it as a possible 'double retirement fight', while Nunes has ruled out it being her last fight. Our full technical analysis is on the fight page, where you can also vote.
Frequently asked questions
When does Amanda Nunes return?
Amanda Nunes returns on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at UFC 334, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Who is Amanda Nunes fighting?
Kayla Harrison, the UFC bantamweight champion, in the UFC 334 co-main event.
Why did Amanda Nunes retire?
She announced her retirement in June 2023, after beating Irene Aldana at UFC 289, while she was bantamweight champion.
What is Amanda Nunes's record?
23 wins and 5 losses, with 13 wins by KO/TKO. She was a UFC champion in two divisions and is in the Hall of Fame.
Why was Harrison vs. Nunes postponed?
The fight was set for January 2026 at UFC 324, but Harrison needed surgery for herniated discs in her neck.
What time does Amanda Nunes fight?
The UFC 334 main card starts at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT). Nunes vs. Harrison is the co-main event, the second-to-last fight of the night.
Who wins, Harrison or Nunes?
Harrison is the favorite in most predictions, but the big unknown is which version of Nunes shows up after three years away. Vote your prediction on La Jaula Props.
