Amanda Nunes vs Kayla Harrison UFC bantamweight title fight and the new era at 135

Why Amanda Nunes vs Kayla Harrison matters

For years, women’s bantamweight drifted after Amanda Nunes retired in 2023, leaving the title behind and the division searching for a clear centrepiece. Kayla Harrison’s arrival changed that overnight. The two-time Olympic judo gold medallist signed with the UFC, dropped to 135 lbs, submitted Holly Holm at UFC 300 and Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307, then dominated Julianna Peña to claim the belt at UFC 316.

Immediately after that win, Nunes stepped back into the Octagon to announce her return and stare down the new champion. UFC 324 is the payoff: the established GOAT against the most decorated newcomer the division has ever seen, in Harrison’s first defence. Whoever wins will define how fans talk about women’s bantamweight for the rest of this decade.

Tale of the tape

On paper, Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison are very similar athletes. Both are 173 cm (5’8″) bantamweights, fighting at 61 kg (135 lbs). The key physical difference is reach: Nunes has around 175 cm (69″) reach, while Harrison’s is listed at roughly 168 cm (66″), giving the challenger a clear advantage in long-range striking exchanges.

Their resumes are where they separate:

• Amanda Nunes: 23–5, former two-division UFC champion at bantamweight and featherweight, wins over Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Valentina Shevchenko, Holly Holm, Miesha Tate, Germaine de Randamie and Julianna Peña.
• Kayla Harrison: 19–1, current UFC bantamweight champion, two-time PFL lightweight champion, two-time Olympic judo gold medallist, UFC wins over Holly Holm, Ketlen Vieira and Julianna Peña.

Nunes is 37 and coming off more than two years away from live competition. Harrison is in her mid-30s, active, and has fought three times in the UFC in less than two years. The question is whether Nunes’ experience and power can overcome ring rust and whether Harrison’s high-effort weight cuts will affect her durability over five rounds.

Style and tactics: striker-wrestler on hard mode

At a basic level, UFC 324’s co-main is a classic striker vs grappler match-up. In reality, both women are far more complete.

Nunes is one of the most efficient power strikers in UFC history. She builds her game behind a stiff jab, a hard low kick and fast right hands. Her 69-inch reach lets her hit clean before opponents can answer, and she punishes level changes with uppercuts and knees. On the ground she is dangerous on top, but her defensive wrestling and underhook game are usually what keep her in control.

Harrison is still a judo specialist at heart. She wants to close distance, get double-underhooks or a body lock, and chain inside trips and throws until she lands on top. From there, she crushes with heavy top pressure, wrist rides, and short ground-and-pound before passing to mount or attacking submissions. Her striking is no longer a liability: she sets up clinches with basic but powerful straight punches and kicks, especially southpaw left hands.

The tactical questions are simple to state and hard to solve:

• Can Harrison consistently get Nunes to the fence and to the mat without absorbing the kind of clean counter that turned fights against Rousey and Cyborg?
• Can Nunes keep her feet, circle off the cage and force long exchanges where her reach, power and experience at high-level striking make the difference?
• Does Harrison’s brutal cut to 135 slow her pace enough that Nunes can take over in the fourth and fifth rounds if the champion cannot find an early finish?

The new women’s bantamweight era

Before Kayla Harrison arrived, the story at 135 was constant turnover: different champions, few dominant defences, and the lingering sense that the real “queen” of the division was retired on a farm in Florida. Harrison’s win over Peña finally produced a dominant, marketable champion who is not just filling a vacancy but creating her own lane.

The Amanda Nunes vs Kayla Harrison UFC title fight makes the division feel big again. If Harrison wins, she becomes the first woman to beat Nunes since 2014 and the first to truly replace her as the face of women’s MMA. That would validate the move from PFL, the extreme cuts to bantamweight and the hype around her Olympic pedigree.

If Nunes wins, the narrative is different but just as powerful: the GOAT retired on top, came back two years later, and immediately reclaimed her belt against an in-prime Olympic champion who had already cleaned out the top contenders. That would cement her as one of the greatest champions in MMA history, gender aside, and give the UFC an easy path into a retirement trilogy or rematch cycle with Harrison and Peña.

Either way, the winner will have clear, fresh matchups. Peña remains a live contender. Holm, Vieira and rising names at 135 all gain relevance from sharing an era with two true stars rather than a revolving door of champions.

What to watch for on fight night

• The opening two minutes: Nunes usually starts fast; Harrison often needs to feel out distance before crashing in. Early success for either woman could dictate the whole fight.
• Cage position: If Harrison can lock Nunes on the fence consistently, the challenger will spend the night pummelling for underhooks instead of punching freely.
• Scrambles, not just takedowns: Nunes does not need to stuff every attempt. If she can bounce back to her feet quickly, Harrison’s gas tank will drain faster with each failed control sequence.
• Body language between rounds: Harrison’s weight cut has been visibly hard. If she slows down and Nunes is still fresh after round three, the momentum may flip sharply.

However it ends, UFC 324’s co-main will give fans a clear answer to a question that has hovered over women’s MMA since 2023: did the torch really pass when Nunes retired, or will it be passed in the cage against Kayla Harrison?

FAQ: Amanda Nunes vs Kayla Harrison UFC 324

When is Amanda Nunes vs Kayla Harrison?

The women’s bantamweight title fight between Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison takes place on 24 January 2026 at UFC 324 in Las Vegas.

Is Amanda Nunes still retired?

No. Nunes retired after defeating Irene Aldana in June 2023 but officially announced her comeback in 2025, targeting the winner of Harrison vs Peña. UFC 324 is her first fight since returning.

Who is the favourite for Amanda Nunes vs Kayla Harrison UFC 324?

As the reigning champion and the more active fighter, Harrison is expected to open as a slight betting favourite, but the matchup is close enough that opinion is split among analysts and fans.

What happens to the women’s bantamweight division after this fight?

A Harrison win likely sets up rematches with Julianna Peña or other top contenders and cements her as the division’s long-term centrepiece. A Nunes win restores her as champion and could lead to an immediate rematch with Harrison, another fight with Peña, or a final run of legacy bouts before she retires for good.