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.
asserted
run → lack → 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.
asserted
she → change → fight
“I am still in shock,” Harrison said in her first remarks in the cage after the win via rear-naked choke.
asserted
Harrison → say → choke
The victory comes 10 months after this fight originally was to happen.
asserted
fight → come → ?
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.
asserted
she → scuttle → Post
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.
asserted
Rogan → cut → defense
“I’ve got a lot of decisions to make when I get home,” Harrison replied.
asserted
Harrison → get → decisions
“… We’ll see.”
asserted
We → 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.
asserted
who → go → fandom
It sure didn’t hurt as Nunes scored with her more potent striking arsenal in the early going.
asserted
Nunes → hurt → 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.
asserted
judo → turn → punches
Certainly, it was enough to secure the opening frame on the scorecards.
asserted
it → secure → scorecards
By round two, Harrison wasn’t bothering to engage in distance striking, preferring to clinch up with her former training partner.
asserted
Harrison → bother → 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.
asserted
Nunes → hold → judoka
Nunes played with fire too long.
asserted
Nunes → play → fire
Harrison threw the former two-division UFC champ again and worked her way to another pinned-arm crucifix.
asserted
Harrison → throw → crucifix
Low-impact punches to the head and fishing for an arm lock seemed enough to secure that frame as well.
asserted
punches → fish → frame
The pace slowed in the third, but Nunes once again secured a takedown of her own.
asserted
Nunes → slow → own
This time, she passed to mount, though Harrison’s back pressed against the fence limited Nunes’ options.
asserted
back → pass → 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.
asserted
damage → regain → top
The champ landed a big elbow, perhaps enough damage dealt to take a commanding three-round lead on the cards.
asserted
champ → land → cards
Then it happened.
asserted
it → happen → ?
Nunes got turned around in an exchange on the feet, and Harrison pounced on “The Lioness.”
asserted
Harrison → turn → Lioness
The choke locked in like lightning on the flattened-out Nunes, who tapped out with no other recourse.
asserted
who → lock → 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.
asserted
Thompson → ride → 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.
asserted
he → know → 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.
asserted
Thompson → fight → 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.
asserted
Miller → extend → mark
McKinney had missed weight by more than four pounds for their lightweight contest.
asserted
McKinney → miss → contest
Jared Gordon, a Queens native, lost a close but unanimous decision against Melquizael Costa in another lightweight bout on the undercard.
asserted
Gordon → lose → undercard
The Aporia
