Kayla Harrison Is Already the Best Bantamweight Not Named Nunes

Kayla Harrison deserves recognition as the second-best bantamweight on the planet right now, regardless of how UFC 334 plays out against Amanda Nunes. That claim sounds bold until you examine the evidence: a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist who has finished nearly every opponent she's faced in MMA, including a demolition job on former champion Holly Holm in her UFC debut.

Harrison's grappling credentials separate her from the entire division. She won Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016, then transitioned to MMA with a professional record built on dominant performances in the PFL. Her takedown accuracy and ability to advance position once the fight hits the mat have proven unstoppable for everyone except Nunes. Even skilled grapplers like Larissa Pacheco, whom Harrison beat three times in the PFL, could not solve her top control and ground-and-pound.

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The finishing rate backs up the technical superiority. Harrison has stopped opponents in nine of her sixteen professional wins, a remarkable number for the women's bantamweight division where decisions are common. Her submission of Holm — a former UFC champion with wins over Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate — showed that Harrison can impose her will on elite-level competition when Nunes is not in the cage.

Critics point to her PFL competition level, but that argument loses weight after the Holm finish. Harrison faced a legitimate UFC contender and made her look outclassed on the ground. The reality is that Harrison would likely defeat every other ranked bantamweight in the division based on skillset alone. Julianna Peña's wrestling would not threaten someone with Harrison's judo pedigree. Raquel Pennington lacks the grappling to stay upright. Irene Aldana's striking would need to end the fight early before Harrison drags her down.

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The UFC 334 matchup with Nunes will test whether Harrison can close the gap at the absolute top. Nunes remains the greatest women's fighter of all time, with a resume that includes wins across two weight classes and defenses against every style imaginable. But even if Harrison loses to Nunes — which many analysts predict — that outcome would not diminish her position as the clear number two. The gap between Harrison and the rest of the bantamweight roster is wider than the gap between Harrison and Nunes.

Harrison's path to proving this claim is straightforward: a competitive showing against Nunes at UFC 334 would cement her status, and a win would obviously validate everything. But even without the belt, her Olympic-level grappling and consistent finishing ability make her the most dangerous fighter in the division after the champion. That's not hype — it's what the tape shows.