Amanda Nunes Will Fight Kayla Harrison on November 14
The 38-year-old former champion returns to the octagon at Madison Square Garden for a five-round co-main event.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Mixed Martial Arts
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Amanda Nunes will end her retirement to face Kayla Harrison at UFC 334 on November 14, 2026. This co-main event at Madison Square Garden marks the return of the 38-year-old fighter to the sport.
Why it matters
The matchup carries significant weight for Brazilian MMA, as fighters like Natalia Silva view the prospect of three simultaneous Brazilian champions as a historic milestone for their nation.
The upcoming co-main event is scheduled for five rounds. Amanda Nunes, who turns 38, competes against a backdrop of a previous 12-fight winning streak that spanned several years before her 2021 loss.
The players
Amanda Nunes
She is a former two-division UFC champion who retired in 2023 after a long and dominant career.
Kayla Harrison
She is a highly decorated professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC lightweight and bantamweight divisions.
Natalia Silva
She is a professional MMA fighter who has spoken on the significance of Brazilian success in the sport.
Mackenzie Dern
She is a professional fighter who won the UFC women's strawweight title at UFC 321.
Julianna Pena
She is a professional fighter who famously defeated Amanda Nunes at UFC 269.
The details
Nunes vacated her bantamweight title after defeating Irene Aldana and subsequently retired in 2023, only to reverse that decision in 2025. Her return comes after a period of activity for other Brazilian fighters, including Mackenzie Dern who captured the strawweight title at UFC 321.
Timeline
Julianna Pena defeated Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 in 2021.
Amanda Nunes retired from professional MMA in 2023.
Amanda Nunes unretired in 2025, the same year Mackenzie Dern won the strawweight title.
The fight against Kayla Harrison is scheduled for November 14, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This bout fundamentally alters the landscape of the women's division, potentially shifting the championship hierarchy following the precedent set by the 2021 UFC 269 bout between Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena. It forces a recalibration of the weight class rankings that have been in flux since Nunes vacated her title.
The inclusion of this five-round bout at Madison Square Garden reshapes the card's billing for ticket holders and broadcast viewers. It immediately impacts divisional standings by inserting a former champion back into the title picture.
The takeaway
Nunes' return highlights the enduring legacy of dominant champions even after periods of inactivity. Fans should watch how her performance at age 38 stacks up against current elite challengers like Harrison.
Further reading
For more on the current state of the octagon, visit the Mixed Martial Arts section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bloody Elbow.
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