White Defends Nunes After UFC 334 Submission Loss

Dana White came to Amanda Nunes' defense after her fourth-round submission loss to Kayla Harrison in the UFC 334 co-main event, arguing the former champion performed better than expected given the circumstances.

Nunes, returning from three years away from competition, challenged Harrison for the bantamweight title at Madison Square Garden. She controlled early exchanges with her striking before Harrison imposed her grappling game and finished with a rear-naked choke in the fourth.

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Retirement Layoff Shaped White's Assessment

The UFC president framed Nunes' performance against the backdrop of her extended absence, noting fighters rarely look sharp after that much time away. White told BJPenn.com he felt Nunes handled the clinch battles reasonably well against an opponent with Harrison's decorated judo background.

"I thought Amanda did look good tonight," White said of the challenger's return. He credited Harrison's elite credentials for the outcome once the fight moved to grappling range, where the champion secured back control and forced the tap.

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White stopped short of calling the clinch work part of Nunes' strategy, saying he was unsure whether engaging in those exchanges was deliberate. Harrison retained her title for the first time since winning the belt earlier this year. Nunes has not announced plans for her future in the sport.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Dana White believes Amanda Nunes ‘looked good’ despite UFC 334 defeat