Two-time Olympic judo champion submits MMA legend
Nunes falls short in return from three-year retirement
Stephen Thompson signs off with spectacular knockout
Kayla Harrison retained her UFC bantamweight championship with a fourth-round submission of Amanda Nunes on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, spoiling the comeback of the woman widely regarded as the greatest female fighter in MMA history.
Harrison (20-1) had plenty to prove in her first title defense against Nunes, who ended a three-year retirement for the eagerly anticipated showdown in the co-main event of UFC 334. It was also Harrison’s first fight since June 2025 after spinal fusion surgery in January to address a neck injury delayed the contest.
Nunes (23-6) repeatedly tried to wrestle with the two-time Olympic judo champion and ended the first two rounds flat on her back. Harrison landed a series of short punches and elbows to the head that appeared to tire her out as much as they damaged Nunes. Harrison later acknowledged the difficulty of cutting weight to the 135lb bantamweight limit.
Harrison, who walked out to Eye of the Tiger while Nunes, better known as the Lioness, stretched and bounced on her toes ahead of Bruce Buffer’s introductions, wasted no time in the fourth round. She tripped Nunes to the canvas and followed her down before applying the rear-naked choke that forced the Brazilian to submit.
“I think I’m still in shock,” Harrison said.
Nunes may still be considered the greatest female fighter in MMA history. Harrison strengthened her claim as the best in the sport today.
Ciryl Gane was set to defend his UFC heavyweight championship against Josh Hokit in the main event.
Donald Trump, who has attended UFC events at the Garden in the past, was not on hand Saturday night. The president said last week that he was offering UFC chief Dana White the job of White House press secretary, although he later said he was joking.
After bringing UFC to the White House lawn this summer, Trump welcomed White into the press briefing room on Monday, briefly standing aside as the promoter took questions.
White had his usual cageside seat on Saturday and reveled in all that the promotion has accomplished in the decade since mixed martial arts was legalized in New York.
Conor McGregor won the lightweight championship in the main event of UFC’s Madison Square Garden debut 10 years ago. Georges St-Pierre, Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones are among the fighters who have won major championship bouts at the venue, where headlining the annual card has become a career goal for many champions.
Some fighters simply want to go out on top in New York.
Stephen Thompson had fans chanting his “Wonderboy” nickname during his retirement fight against Charles Radtke in a welterweight bout. The 43-year-old Thompson, who twice challenged for the welterweight championship, won by stoppage with a spinning wheel kick to Radtke’s head in the third round. UFC played a video tribute to Thompson afterward.
“I told myself I wasn’t going to cry,” Thompson said, his voice catching. “We wouldn’t have this sport if it wasn’t for my fans.”
Thompson laid his gloves on the canvas, the traditional symbolic farewell of a retiring MMA fighter.
