Can Kayla Harrison Cement Her Legacy Against a Returning Amanda Nunes?
UFC 316 was a night that produced no shortage of headlines, but perhaps none were as big as Kayla Harrison submitting Julianna Pena to claim the UFC Bantamweight Championship. The co-main event would not be close. Harrison would thoroughly dominate Pena, out-landing the champion 30 strikes to nine, as the American would then lock in a kimura in the final seconds of the second round, securing her spot as the queen of the Bantamweight Division. However, as Kayla Harrison took her seat on the Bantamweight throne last night, Amanda Nunes made her intentions of reclaiming her championship very clear.
Kayla Harrison has put together one of the most impressive MMA resumes in history. Harrison is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, a two-time PFL Women’s Lightweight Champion, and now the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion. With a career full of accolades and achievements, Harrison has fought the best mixed-martial artists in the world. However, Harrison now faces the biggest test of her career, as Amanda Nunes is back and hungry to regain the championship that she vacated in 2023. There’s more on the line than championship gold in the super-fight between Harrison and Nunes, as the winner’s legacy will be solidified in UFC history.
For Amanda Nunes, adding a name like Kayla Harrison to the long list of legendary opponents she has beaten would only add to her legacy as the greatest female fighter of all time. Nunes’ legacy and title as the greatest of all time is exactly what Harrison wants. When Kayla Harrison finally put pen to paper on a deal with the UFC in 2024, she did so with the clear intention of proving that she is the greatest fighter in the world. Kayla Harrison already has the accolades that make her one of the greatest fighters in WMMA history. Still, a win over Amanda Nunes could put Harrison on the right path to usurping Nunes as the greatest female fighter of all time.
Throughout her career, Kayla Harrison has showcased an exceptional ability to control her opponents on the ground. Harrison’s Olympic-level judo has led her to eight wins via submission, which accounts for 42% of her wins. Amanda Nunes is historically hard to get to the ground and possesses impressive jiu-jitsu skills of her own. The striking of Amanda Nunes is what has earned her all her success. With power that is unmatched in Women’s Bantamweight, Nunes is always just one clean shot away from ending any fight she is in. On the other hand, Kayla Harrison’s grappling is unlike anything Nunes has ever faced, so it is unfair to compare Nunes’ past success on the ground to how she would fare against a two-time Olympic gold medalist. The dream fight between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes is as hard to predict as they come and will do wonders for WMMA in terms of popularity and hype.
