UFC women's bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison says the end of her career is near, citing four surgeries in four years. She vowed to fight on until the wheels fall off but said there is not much time left. Harrison defends her title against Amanda Nunes in the UFC 334 co-main event at Madison Square Garden on November 14.
UFC women's bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison says her fighting career is approaching its end, pointing to the toll of four surgeries in four years. Harrison told reporters she intends to keep competing until the wheels fall off, but acknowledged there is not much time left. Her next appearance comes on November 14, when she defends her belt against Amanda Nunes in the co-main event of UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden.
Harrison, 35, enters the title defense with a 16-1 record. The American's grappling has been the defining feature of her run: she averages 22.5 takedowns per 15 minutes, a rate that underlines how consistently she drags opponents to the mat. On the feet she lands 3.81 significant strikes per minute at a 73 percent accuracy clip. She stands five-foot-eight with a 66-inch reach.
Nunes, 38, brings a 23-5 record and one of the most decorated resumes the division has seen. The Brazilian, nicknamed The Lioness, trains out of Lioness Studio and fights from an orthodox stance. She lands 4.55 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy, and averages 2.73 takedowns and 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes. She also stands five-foot-eight, with a 69-inch reach, a three-inch edge over the champion.
Why it matters
- Harrison's comments add weight to a title defense that may be among her last high-profile fights, with the champion openly framing her career window as short.
- The matchup pits Harrison's heavy takedown output against a veteran who has her own wrestling and submission numbers and a reach advantage.
- UFC 334 lands at Madison Square Garden, giving the bantamweight title bout a marquee setting.
- Both fighters are in their mid-to-late thirties, making the bout a meeting of two experienced athletes late in their careers.
Harrison's candor about her physical condition is notable for a reigning champion preparing for a title fight. Four surgeries across four years is a significant workload for any athlete, and she made clear the end is coming rather than distant. For now, her focus is on Nunes and the November 14 card.
Saturday, November 14, 2026
