Kayla Harrison makes the first defense of her bantamweight title at UFC 324 when she faces arguably the greatest of all time as Amanda Nunes returns from retirement in an attempt to recapture the belt she never lost.
The fight serves as the co-main event on Jan. 24, kicking off the UFC’s new seven year, $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount. Harrison, who captured PFL titles at 155 pounds before moving to the UFC, dominated and finished Julianna Peña to win the belt with hopes that Nunes would
eventually return to fight again.
According to UFC CEO Dana White, Nunes’ decision to fight again was directly a reaction to Harrison winning the belt. He also believes the magnitude of this matchup can’t be overstated considering the credentials the two fighters involved carry into the octagon.
“The Kayla Harrison-Amanda Nunes fight is the greatest women’s fight of all time,” White told CBS.
“Kayla Harrison, an Olympic [gold] medalist in judo, has ripped through everybody. She was in another company before she came here and she ended up winning the world title. Amanda Nunes, who is the GOAT, the greatest female fighter of all time in any combat sport, says if this woman ends up winning the title, I will come back to face her. It’s a great, great fight. In my opinion, the greatest female fight of all time.”
It’s tough to argue with White’s logic given what Harrison and Nunes have accomplished throughout their careers.
Harrison has only tasted defeat once when she dropped a decision to Larissa Pacheco in PFL but that fight came after she already beat the Brazilian on two previous occasions.
Meanwhile, Nunes ran roughshod over the UFC bantamweight division, beating every former champion along the way including wins over Miesha Tate, Holly Holm and Ronda Rousey. She suffered a massive upset loss dropping her belt to Peña back in 2021, but avenged that defeat with a lopsided win in the rematch.
Nunes retired after defeating Irene Aldana in 2023 but later hinted at a comeback before fully revealing plans to fight again once Harrison captured the belt.
Harrison vs. Nunes serves as the co-headliner for UFC 324 with Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett set as the main event with the interim lightweight title going up for grabs.
