Kayla Harrison has dreamed of facing Amanda Nunes since the beginning of her mixed martial arts career. Now, after years of waiting and overcoming significant obstacles, the reigning UFC bantamweight champion is finally preparing for the biggest fight of her life.
Harrison is set to return from major neck surgery to face former two-division champion Nunes in the co-main event of UFC 334 this Saturday. The highly anticipated matchup represents an opportunity for Harrison to cement her legacy and strengthen her claim to becoming the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time.
Speaking to UFC on Paramount+, Harrison reflected on the journey that has brought her to this moment and expressed her gratitude that the long-awaited fight is finally happening.
“This is the fight that I have wanted since I started MMA, and a lot of things had to go right in order for this to happen, and some things did go wrong, and it's still happening. So I'm grateful to Amanda,” Harrison said.
For Harrison, defeating Nunes would represent more than another championship victory. It would bring her closer to achieving the ultimate ambition she has held since entering the sport: becoming the GOAT.
However, the two-time Olympic judo gold medalist has an interesting perspective on what that legacy should ultimately mean. Rather than wanting her records and achievements to remain untouched, she hopes to inspire the next generation to surpass everything she accomplishes.
“And to be the GOAT? Like, that was the goal from day one, and I've said this a lot today, but I'll repeat it here. The goal is for me to be a GOAT maybe for a week or a year or a month. I don't know how long that will last, but I don't want to be the greatest of all time for all time,” she explained.
Harrison continued by emphasizing that she wants future fighters to build on her accomplishments and push women's MMA to even greater heights.
“I want the next generation to come and stand on my shoulders and just decimate all of the records that I have. I don't want this to be the greatest female fight of all time. I want the next generation to come and shatter it.”
Before thinking about the future, however, Harrison must first get past one of the most accomplished fighters in MMA history.
Nunes, widely regarded as one of the greatest female fighters to ever grace the Octagon, presents a formidable challenge.
With her dream matchup finally becoming reality, Harrison now has the opportunity to turn years of ambition into history at UFC 334.
