Amanda Nunes says Kayla Harrison still makes the same mistakes from sparring
Nunes, who returns from retirement to challenge Harrison for the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 334 on 14 November, said the champion has evolved but repeats the errors she saw when they trained together.
Amanda Nunes believes Kayla Harrison is still making the same mistakes she spotted when the pair sparred at American Top Team. Nunes will try to exploit them when she challenges for Harrison's bantamweight title at Madison Square Garden.
The former UFC featherweight and bantamweight champion comes out of retirement for the co-main event of UFC 334 on 14 November, beneath the heavyweight title fight between Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit. The bout was originally scheduled for January before Harrison needed neck surgery.
Speaking on the UFC's Deep Waters podcast, Nunes said: “I spar (with) Kayla before.” She added that Harrison had evolved a lot since first arriving at the gym but still made the same mistakes as when they trained together. Nunes expects to face the same fighter she stood across from in those sessions.
The two shared the mats at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. Nunes left the gym in 2022 after her shock title loss to Julianna Pena and later admitted that Harrison's presence there, as a potential future opponent, had factored into her decision. The pair have since traded barbs in public.
Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo gold medallist and former PFL champion, is unbeaten in the Octagon. She beat Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira to earn her title shot, then submitted Pena in June 2025 to become champion.
Nunes never stopped Pena in their two fights. Pena submitted her in the first, and Nunes won the rematch on the scorecards six months later.
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