Joselyne Edwards named backup for Harrison vs. Nunes title fight at UFC 334

Joselyne Edwards has been named the backup fighter for the bantamweight title bout between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes at UFC 334, MMA Fighting reported. Edwards will make weight in case either woman is unable to compete at Madison Square Garden.

The Harrison-Nunes fight co-headlines a card topped by Ciryl Gane's undisputed heavyweight title defense against Josh Hokit. Harrison vs. Nunes was originally scheduled for January but was postponed after Harrison underwent neck surgery. The event is listed for Nov. 14, while the report places the card on Nov. 12.

Edwards earned the alternate role on the strength of a five-fight UFC winning streak that began in late 2024. Four of those wins came by finish, and the fifth was a decision over Norma Dumont.

The fighters

Nunes, 38, of Brazil, carries a 23-5 record into the fight. Her most recent recorded fight came on June 10, 2023, when she beat Irene Aldana by unanimous decision at UFC 289 to defend her bantamweight title. She lands 4.55 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy and averages 2.73 takedowns per 15 minutes, a grappling rate that stands out against the rest of the context here. She stands five-foot-eight with a 69-inch reach.

Dumont, 36, is the common thread to Edwards' recent run. The Brazilian is 13-4 and ranked fourth in the women's bantamweight division. She has since dropped two in a row: the April 25 loss to Edwards, then a unanimous decision defeat to Ailin Perez on Sept. 26. Dumont lands 3.79 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy and averages 1.4 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Gane, 36, the heavyweight champion, is 14-2. He won his title with a second-round stoppage of Alex Pereira on June 14, 2026, at UFC Freedom 250. He lands 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy and has a 6-foot-4 frame with an 81-inch reach.

Why it matters

• Edwards beat Dumont, a top-five bantamweight, by unanimous decision on April 25, giving her a recent win over a ranked opponent to go with her five-fight streak.
• The backup role keeps the co-main event protected after a card that has already been rescheduled once because of Harrison's surgery.
• Nunes has not fought since June 2023, so her return carries added weight on a card headlined by a heavyweight title fight.