Current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Women’s Bantamweight Champion, Kayla Harrisonprepares to defend her title against the former division queen, Amanda Nuneswho returns from retirement to co-main event the mega-fight UFC 334 on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Having just turned 36 and having spent most of his life competing in highly competitive combat sports, Harrison knows the clock is ticking on his UFC career. During the discussion on the topic “Deep Waters” Podcast. along with other UFC stars Chris Weidman, Dustin Poirierand Jorge Masvidalthe champion revealed that it won’t be long before he hangs up his gloves to focus more on other aspects of his life.
“Not long. 100 percent until the wheels fall off, but … four surgeries in four years, the wheels are a little wobbly guys,” Harrison joked. “Yeah, not for long. I’m up for that too dude, I haven’t been on a date in five years. I’m a single mom with two kids, homeschooling them, working out, I just don’t have any free time so I’d like to meet someone.”
Harrison has had perhaps one of the most impressive fighting careers in women’s combat sports, which includes winning gold medals in judo at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Not to mention the countless medals he won in previous years in other tournaments all over the planet.
Two years after winning his last gold medal at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Harrison made his pro MMA debut under the now-defunct PFL banner, posting a 15-1 record with two tournament titles.
He eventually joined the UFC ranks in 2024, defeating Holly Holm in his debut match at UFC 300. After defeat Ketlen Vieira in his sophomore fight he defeated Juliana Pena win the women’s 135-pound belt, adding even more hardware to her already crowded trophy case.
He was scheduled to face Nunes earlier this year at UFC 324 before him bowed out of the event to undergo neck surgery, one of the many medical procedures he has had to undergo during his racing career. Now, Harrison is preparing to return to face the Lioness in one of the biggest fights in women’s MMA history. With the win, the judo expert further enhances his resume and leaves him with one less big name to fight before he calls it a career.
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