Beat a legend, become a legend.
Kayla Harrison already was an Olympic icon for her decorated judo career, but her run in MMA lacked a win over a real queen of this sport.
That changed Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, where she submitted returning UFC Hall of Famer Amanda Nunes — her former American Top Team training partner — in the fourth round of their women’s bantamweight title fight.
“I am still in shock,” Harrison said in her first remarks in the cage after the win via rear-naked choke.
The victory comes 10 months after this fight originally was to happen. Plans were scuttled by Harrison electing to undergo neck surgery, a decision she told The Post earlier this week was a long time coming but was unavoidable.
With that as the backdrop, and the fact that the weight cut to 135 pounds drains her more than most, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan asked her about her future in the sport after her first successful title defense.
“I’ve got a lot of decisions to make when I get home,” Harrison replied. “… We’ll see.”
The Garden crowd uncharacteristically went for the Brazilian Nunes, who retired in 2023 but announced in June 2025 her intent to return to competition, from the start — perhaps keenly aware of Harrison’s Red Sox fandom.
It sure didn’t hurt as Nunes scored with her more potent striking arsenal in the early going.
But Harrison’s world-class judo turned the tide, throwing down the legend and landing in a crucifix while raining unblocked punches — none too heavy, though. Certainly, it was enough to secure the opening frame on the scorecards.
By round two, Harrison wasn’t bothering to engage in distance striking, preferring to clinch up with her former training partner. Nunes held her own and stayed off the mat, pushing Harrison against the fence and securing a body lock takedown on the two-time Olympic gold medal-winning judoka.
Nunes played with fire too long. Harrison threw the former two-division UFC champ again and worked her way to another pinned-arm crucifix. Low-impact punches to the head and fishing for an arm lock seemed enough to secure that frame as well.
The pace slowed in the third, but Nunes once again secured a takedown of her own. This time, she passed to mount, though Harrison’s back pressed against the fence limited Nunes’ options.
After the two regained their footing, Nunes again managed a takedown but this time in the middle of the Octagon, allowing her to take Harrison’s back but a reversal put Harrison back on top before any damage was done. The champ landed a big elbow, perhaps enough damage dealt to take a commanding three-round lead on the cards.
Then it happened. Nunes got turned around in an exchange on the feet, and Harrison pounced on “The Lioness.” The choke locked in like lightning on the flattened-out Nunes, who tapped out with no other recourse.
Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson rode off into the sunset in spectacularly fitting fashion with a spinning wheel kick knockout of Charles Radtke to close out the preliminary portion of the night.
Known as the “Nicest Motherf—er” in the sport, the 43-year-old kickboxing standout punctuated his in-cage remarks with an earnest message of love as he and Rogan lost the battle with their own tear ducts.
Ten years ago during the UFC’s debut at the Garden, Thompson had fought to a memorable Fight of the Night draw in his bid to win the welterweight title from Tyron Woodley.
Jim Miller extended his UFC record to 48 fights with the promotion but was stopped by Terrance McKinney in the first round, falling by TKO at the 1:53 mark. McKinney had missed weight by more than four pounds for their lightweight contest. … Jared Gordon, a Queens native, lost a close but unanimous decision against Melquizael Costa in another lightweight bout on the undercard.
