UFC 334 Paths to Victory: Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes

UFC 334 takes place this Saturday, that includes a combat that’s almost 5 years within the making: Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes.

Although Harrison and Nunes have been teammates at American Prime Workforce, the 2 girls have been trying to arrange a superfight again in 2021 when Harrison was first free to go away the PFL. However then, Nunes suffered a surprising upset defeat to Julianna Peña, and Harrison returned to the PFL. Nunes then reclaimed her title and, a few years later, retired from the game, with Harrison nonetheless not within the UFC.

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However when Harrison joined the UFC in 2024, rumblings started in regards to the misplaced superfight, and after Harrison received the bantamweight title in June of 2025, it was official: Nunes was popping out of retirement to make the combat occur. An damage delayed the bout one other 10 months, however now we stand on the precipice of this epic matchup. So, how will it go?

Let’s check out what we will anticipate from Harrison and Nunes on Saturday.

Path to victory for Kayla Harrison at UFC 334

Had Harrison by no means set foot inside an octagon, she’d nonetheless go down as a traditionally nice athlete, profitable gold medals in judo at two Olympic Video games, on prime of myriad different accomplishments within the sport. Thankfully, although, Harrison did, and he or she’s continued so as to add to her trophy case on this sport, profitable two PFL titles and the UFC girls’s bantamweight title by turning her judo sport right into a potent MMA sport.

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Harrison’s best energy in MMA is clearly her judo. As soon as she will be able to work her manner right into a clinch, Harrison’s understanding of weight shifts, journeys, and throws is difficult to beat. It often results in a takedown, and from there, issues go downhill shortly for her opponents. Harrison is great with prime management and strain, and whereas the submissions are a risk, Harrison will not be overly preoccupied with discovering a choke or armbar. As a substitute, Harrison is more than pleased to ship brutal ground-and-pound till a submission presents itself.

Exacerbating all of that’s Harrison’s sheer physicality. This can be a lady who competed at 170 kilos in judo, and it was a critical query whether or not or not she’d be capable of make 135 kilos. The truth that she’s pulled it off 3 times is a minor miracle, nevertheless it pays enormous dividends on combat evening, the place her large measurement and energy benefits intensify her technical skills in a devastating manner.

The weak point for Harrison is on the ft. Whereas she’s not fully out of her depth there, Harrison does not look like a pure striker. She has good putting protection, however her offense is restricted and rote, and extra importantly, it feels uncomfortable and compelled. There’s not a pure development or movement, merely the specter of exercise to arrange her grappling. Merely put, Harrison is not a risk on the ft.

So, given the above, the apparent path ahead for Harrison is grappling. Whereas Nunes has proven some weaknesses on the ft — her incapacity to cope with a jab, for one — Harrison does not actually have the instruments to take benefit. So for Harrison, that is about minimizing threat on the ft, and attending to your spots to attain takedowns and land floor and pound.

Paths to victory for Amanda Nunes at UFC 334

Merely put, Amanda Nunes is the GOAT. 11 championship wins within the UFC, titles in two divisions, and a litany of UFC data, there are few fighters who’ve come close to the accomplishments of “The Lioness.” And whereas it appears apparent, Nunes achieved all of this by being probably the most harmful feminine fighter of all time.

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Do not get me unsuitable, Nunes is expert, and among the many extra expert girls to ever combat, throughout a number of disciplines. However Nunes did not win fights as a result of she had an immensely layered offensive sport — she famously solved the Julianna Peña rematch not by studying the right way to counter a jab, however by combating the rematch completely in southpaw — she received fights as a result of she has a rock-solid sport in all phases, and devastating physicality. She’s in all probability the best puncher in girls’s MMA historical past, and the few occasions she fought girls who might beat her on the ft, Nunes might dump them on the ground.

Towards Harrison, the latter is clearly a poor possibility. Whereas it is attainable Nunes might run over Harrison from prime place, that ought to in all probability be her final resort possibility, as a result of any time Nunes is involved with Harrison, it creates the chance for scrambles, and Nunes is actually solely dropping this combat on the underside. So for Nunes, the sport is energy pictures on the ft, footwork to keep away from the fence, and blend in some physique work, too. Harrison’s minimize to 135 kilos is astronomical, so taking the fuel away early ought to pay large dividends.

The elephants within the room

For all of the attainable technical breakdowns that may be made about this matchup, the reality is that what is going to decide Saturday’s matchup very seemingly has little to do with any of that. In most fights, you will have a good suggestion of what each fighters can deliver to the desk, and perhaps one or two questions on how some technique would possibly play out; on this combat, you continue to have the technique questions, however they’re coloured by the a lot bigger drawback of uncertainty across the situation of each fighters.

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Harrison has not fought in 17 months, largely resulting from having neck surgical procedure. Whereas she says she’s totally wholesome — what else would she say? — a 36-year-old athlete coming off a neck fusion surgical procedure, who nonetheless has herniated discs she’s ready to function on till after her profession is over, nicely, that does not encourage confidence.

However someway, Nunes is much more regarding. The GOAT has not fought in 41 months, and even on the finish of her profession, Nunes was beginning to look somewhat worse. Now, might that be as a result of she was dropping motivation and the time without work reinvigorated her, main her to appear to be peak Nunes on Saturday? Presumably. Or it might imply the previous fighter received worse, then took 3.5 years off, and received manner worse.

If each girls have been at their peaks, Nunes must be a cushty favourite. However how a lot of every lady will present up on Saturday might be the defining query for this combat, and there is no actual option to know till the cage door closes.

Prediction

The best way I see it, there are 4 potentialities:

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1. Each Harrison and Nunes are near one hundred pc of their skills — Nunes by KO.

2. Harrison is near one hundred pc, however Nunes is diminished — Harrison by Submission.

3. Harrison is diminished, however Nunes is near one hundred pc — Nunes by KO.

4. Each Harrison and Nunes are diminished — Nunes by KO.

I am enjoying the percentages right here. Nunes is the extra harmful striker, a reliable grappler, and might match Harrison’s physicality. She fends off an early cost from Harrison and finishes her within the center rounds.

Amanda Nunes def. Kayla Harrison through TKO (punches) — 2:05, Spherical 3