Kayla Harrison Defends UFC Bantamweight Title via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) Over Amanda Nunes in Round 3 at UFC 324 T-Mobile Arena

The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas witnessed a seismic shift in women’s MMA history on January 24, 2026, as Kayla Harrison retained her UFC bantamweight championship with a third-round rear-naked choke submission over the legendary Amanda “The Lioness” Nunes. Harrison, the two-time Olympic judo gold medalist, weathered early striking pressure from the returning Nunes before transitioning to her world-class grappling, locking in the choke at 3:42 of Round 3 to force the tap. Broadcast live on Paramount+ as part of UFC 324’s stacked card, the fight exploded across X with reactions like, “Harrison just choked out the GOAT—new era at 135! #UFC324 #HarrisonNunes.” A capacity crowd of around 20,000 created an electric atmosphere, blending awe for Nunes’ legacy with hype for Harrison’s dominance in the Paramount+ debut main card.

Fight Overview

Date: January 24, 2026 Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada Start Time: Main card 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT (main event ~11:00 PM ET) Stakes: UFC Bantamweight Championship (women’s)—Harrison’s first defense after claiming the vacant belt in late 2025; Nunes’ comeback attempt to reclaim the throne she vacated in 2024. Odds: Harrison heavy favorite at -400, Nunes at +300, reflecting Kayla’s grappling edge and activity against Amanda’s ring rust and age (38). X Buzz Quote: “Harrison vs Nunes is the biggest women’s fight ever—GOAT vs future GOAT! #UFC324” — viral pre-fight hype across MMA Twitter. Crowd Size and Atmosphere: ~20,000 fans, with chants for both legends and a palpable sense of history in the making. Poll Lean: Pre-fight X polls leaned 70-30 for Harrison, citing her prime and grappling, though Nunes’ fanbase held out for a striking upset.

Kayla Harrison Age: 35 Origin: Middletown, Ohio, USA Record: 18-1 (6 KOs/TKOs, 6 Subs) Stance: Orthodox Height/Reach: 5’8″ / 66″ Key Stats: Elite wrestling (4.5+ takedowns/15 min); high submission threat and ground control. Recent Form: Undefeated in UFC with dominant wins, including title capture; PFL champ before transitioning. Training/X Clips: Grappling-heavy camp clips on X: “Ready to defend what’s mine—history continues! #KaylaHarrison.” Notable Trait: World-class judo and grappling dominance with improving striking; suffocating top control. Quote/Tweet: “Amanda is the greatest—honor to share the cage. This belt stays with me.”

Amanda Nunes Age: 38 Origin: Itajaí, Brazil Record: 23-6 (12 KOs/TKOs, 1 Sub) Stance: Orthodox Height/Reach: 5’8″ / 69″ Key Stats: Devastating power striking; former double champ with elite finishing ability. Recent Form: Returned from retirement; last fought in 2024 before vacating belts; facing rust but timeless skill. Training/X Clips: Pad sessions and mitt work: “Lioness is back—time to roar again! #TheLioness.” Notable Trait: One-punch knockout power, crisp boxing, and mental toughness in big moments. Quote/Tweet: “Respect to Kayla—she earned it. Proud of my career; maybe one more run.”

The Fight: Round-by-Round Breakdown

Round 1: Nunes came out sharp, landing clean combinations and keeping distance with her jab. Harrison absorbed shots but closed distance for clinch work, landing a late takedown. CompuBox: Nunes 28/62 sig. strikes, Harrison 15/40. Scoring: 10-9 Nunes.

Round 2: Harrison ramped up pressure—secured an early takedown, passed guard, and spent most of the round in mount/top control landing ground-and-pound. Nunes survived but couldn’t escape. CompuBox: Harrison 22/55 sig. strikes (mostly ground), Nunes 12/35. Scoring: 10-9 Harrison.

Round 3: Harrison wasted no time—takedown early, transitioned to back control after Nunes scrambled, locked in the rear-naked choke. Nunes fought valiantly but tapped at 3:42. No CompuBox for partial round, but Harrison dominated position.

Key Moments and Impact

• Harrison’s Grappling Transition: Seamless shift from striking defense to dominant ground game sealed the finish, showcasing her elite judo.
• Nunes’ Early Striking: Clean shots proved Amanda still had power, rocking Harrison briefly and reminding everyone of her danger.
• Fan/Media Reaction: X hailed Harrison as “the new queen” while paying tribute to Nunes’ legacy; media called it “end of an era” and potential Fight/Submission of the Night.
• No Major Injuries: Clean submission; Nunes showed no visible damage beyond fatigue.

Post-Fight Analysis and Implications

Harrison: “This is for my team and the fans—next challenger, bring it!” eyeing unification talks or big names like Raquel Pennington rematch. Bonuses: $100k each for Submission/Perf of the Night. Nunes, emotional: “I gave what I had—proud of my run.” Bantamweight women’s division solidifies around Harrison’s reign, with Nunes’ retirement (or one more fight) looming.

Event Context and Las Vegas Atmosphere

Same card as Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett (interim lightweight title); co-main Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong added fireworks. Paramount+ debut drew record women’s MMA viewership; Vegas fight week was massive.

What’s Next?

For Harrison: Likely defense vs. top contender (e.g., Julianna Peña, Maycee Barber winner). For Nunes: Probable retirement, though teased “one more” in post-fight.

On January 24, 2026, Kayla Harrison asserted her dominance over Amanda Nunes, submitting the legend via rear-naked choke in Round 3 to retain the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 324. A historic passing-of-the-torch moment in women’s MMA, cementing Harrison’s era while honoring one of the sport’s all-time greats.