Kayla Harrison secured a statement victory at “UFC 334” by successfully defending her bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes in a co-main event, per NY Fights.
The American utilized elite grappling skills to force a submission at 1:29 of the fourth round after catching a kick and taking Nunes’ back for a rear-naked choke, according to “NY Fights”.
The event also featured Stephen Thompson securing a fairytale finish in his 14-year career with a head kick knockout, as reported by “NY Fights”.
Nunes returned after nearly four years away from competition following her appearance at UFC 289, while Harrison returned from a 17-month layoff due to neck surgery.
After a back-and-forth grappling affair across the opening three rounds, Harrison capitalized in the fourth to cement what is considered the biggest fight in women’s MMA history, according to a post on “X by UFC on Paramount+”.
The 36-year-old champion became visibly emotional during her post-fight interview when speaking with Joe Rogan, as captured in a video shared by “YouTube”.
Reflecting on her journey and unexpected path to athletic success, Harrison stated, “‘Sometimes, I cannot believe my life, Joe,’” according to digital media outlets.
Addressing retirement speculation and her physical condition after the grueling weight cut, Harrison noted, “‘I mean, I’ve got a lot of decisions to make when I get home,’” as reported by Yahoo Sports.