Amanda Nunes’ fight IQ and game plan were seriously questioned during her return at UFC 334, leading to Kayla Harrison choking her out in the fourth round inside Madison Square Garden. This brutal loss gives “The Lioness” her first UFC defeat since 2021, and honestly, it felt like Nunes helped beat herself.
What Went Wrong For The Lioness?
Nunes, a former two-division champion, had returned from a three-year retirement, and physically, she looked absolutely dialed in before stepping into the octagon against bantamweight champ Kayla Harrison. She checked all the boxes leading up to the fight. But once the bell rang, things went sideways. Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist, immediately put her stamp on the fight, landing takedowns in the first two rounds. Nunes started with her signature kick-and-combo attack, which is classic Nunes, but then she tried to *out-grapple* Harrison. Think about that for a second. You don’t try to out-grapple an Olympic judo gold medalist.
The original fight was set for January, but Harrison had neck surgery, delaying everything. You’d think Nunes might leverage that with strikes, right? Use that information? Nope. She was adamant about taking Harrison down. Nunes did manage a takedown in round three, but Harrison reversed position and took control, which became a common theme in the fight.
Harrison’s Dominance and The Fourth Round Finish
Kayla Harrison put on an elite performance, no doubt about it. She was sharp. In that decisive fourth round, Harrison seized the moment. She grabbed the leg of a retreating Nunes, immobilized her, and then forced the tap with a rear-naked choke. It was clinical. Harrison earned that hand raised moment, solidifying her 20-1 record. Nunes now sits at 23-6, looking at a performance she’ll want to forget ASAP.
So, what’s next for MMA royalty like Amanda Nunes after a showing like this? Her future is definitely unknown. There have been talks about a rematch at 145 pounds, a weight class Harrison is much more comfortable in, but that all hinges on whether Harrison feels up for it. Beyond that, is there any other fight that could truly entice Nunes, other than maybe a trilogy bout against Julianna Pena? Nunes has made it clear she’s ready to keep going until the wheels fall off. Whatever comes next for “The Lioness,” the questions about her game plan at UFC 334 aren’t going away anytime soon.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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