Kayla Harrison doubted elite-level return before submitting Amanda Nunes

Kayla Harrison revealed she was uncertain whether she would return to elite-level competition after undergoing neck surgery earlier in the year. She made a triumphant return at UFC 334, where she submitted Amanda Nunes to retain the UFC women's bantamweight title. The recovery process was both physically and mentally challenging for Harrison, who expressed that she only wanted to return if she could still compete at her best.

On the Paramount+ UFC 334 postfight show, Harrison stated, "There was a point this year where I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to come back." She emphasized that she never wanted to merely collect a paycheck or participate without giving her all, insisting she wanted to showcase her best abilities. The fight was postponed multiple times due to her neck's incomplete recovery, providing her with more training time and making it easier to reach her target weight of 135 pounds.

Harrison reflected on her decision to return, saying, "In hindsight, I'm glad that it all happened the way it was supposed to because I was training for longer, my weight was able to get lower." Despite Nunes' early aggression with powerful right hands and takedown attempts, Harrison prevailed on the mat. In the fourth round, she secured a rear-naked choke, forcing Nunes to tap out at 1:27.