Kayla Harrison defended her bantamweight title by submitting Amanda Nunes in the fourth round at Madison Square Garden.
The Saturday night co-main event took place at the Madison Square Garden, as reported by The Guardian. The card featured 13 bouts running nearly eight hours into Sunday morning, showcasing the promotion’s continued footprint in major metropolitan venues three decades after New York lifted its ban on professional mixed martial arts in March 2016.
Harrison’s path to the UFC title followed a dominant career in judo that included two Olympic gold medals. Reflecting on her transformation from amateur competitor to a headlining athlete earning major paydays, Harrison described the magnitude of her journey to The Guardian.
“I wouldn’t believe me,” Harrison told The Guardian. “I would say, ‘Did we do what? We do MMA? What? I mean, we made how much money?’”
Political Ties and the Ultimate Fighting Championship Business Model
White has spoken at three Republican National Conventions and organized events tied to political figures, while the promotion secured broadcast agreements including a seven-year deal with Paramount Skydance. Despite its corporate growth and a valuation exceeding $12 billion, the organization faces ongoing scrutiny over fighter compensation and its opposition to unionization.
From Olympic Mats to the Octagon
For athletes transitioning from amateur wrestling and judo, the promotion has provided a financial outlet historically absent in Olympic sports. The Guardian said that athletes like Mark Schultz faced financial hardship after winning medals, a reality dramatized in the 2014 film Foxcatcher.
Schultz became the first Olympic gold medalist to enter the octagon at UFC 9 in 1996. At least 20 Olympians have since followed that route, including Ronda Rousey, Henry Cejudo, and Harrison.
White initially stated in 2011 that women would not compete in the organization before changing his stance as Rousey drew large pay-per-view audiences. Saturday’s card generated $10.3 million in ticket sales, underlining the commercial growth of women’s divisions.
Harrison overcame personal adversity, including surviving sexual abuse by her judo coach Daniel Doyle during her youth, the death of her father by suicide in 2014, and adopting her sister’s children following family health crises. Balancing single parenthood with a professional fighting career, she captured two Professional Fighters League championships before joining the UFC in 2024.
“You still have to open the bag of chips,” Harrison told The Guardian regarding the demands of parenting while training. “I mean, you want to sit on the floor and cry, but they’re like, ‘Mama.’ And I’m like, ‘Well, I guess I’m not melting down right now.’”
The Fourth-Round Submission Against Amanda Nunes
The co-main event pitted Harrison against Nunes, who returned to competition following a three-and-a-half-year absence. Nunes pressed the action early, staggering Harrison in a frantic first round before losing position during grappling exchanges.
Harrison capitalized on her judo background as the bout progressed. After controlling the pace through the second and third rounds, Harrison secured a rear-naked choke in the fourth frame, forcing Nunes to submit.
Following the stoppage, Harrison knelt in the center of the cage, marking her status as bantamweight champion after returning from neck surgery that had delayed their initial matchup. She continues to operate the Fearless Foundation to support survivors of sexual abuse.
Worth a look
