Fighter-turned-reporter makes ‘bold prediction’ ahead of Amanda Nunes vs Kayla Harrison at UFC 334

One key difference between Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison could settle their highly anticipated clash on the UFC 334 card at Madison Square Garden.

That is according to former UFC fighter Diana Belbita, who has shared her two cents on Amanda Nunes’ MMA comeback against Kayla Harrison in November.

Nunes, who is one of the best MMA fighters of all time, has been inactive in the world of MMA after her 2023 unanimous decision win over Irene Aldana at UFC 289.

The UFC legend later vacated the women’s bantamweight title and called it time on her career, but Nunes confirmed in 2025 that she was plotting her return to MMA.

He instantly called out Chase DeMoor and has plans for multiple fights!

Amanda Nunes carved through the women’s division during her initial run with Dana White’s promotion after becoming the women’s bantamweight champion in 2016.

The 38-year-old Brazilian-American MMA fighter chalked up impressive wins over the likes of Holly Holm, Cris Cyborg, Valentina Shevchenko, Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate.

Diana Belbita has claimed that a potentially defining aspect of the UFC 334 fight could depend on whether the former two-division UFC champion can produce a “vintage” performance.

“I feel like everything depends on how Amanda [Nunes] comes back because if we are going to see the vintage Amanda, the one before she decided to retire, then she has a greater chance to win,” she said on The Game Plan podcast.

“But if Amanda is not the same, it’s different. As a retired fighter, I know how that feels. Once you are done fighting, you don’t train as much.”

Kayla Harrison will make her first defense of the UFC women’s bantamweight title against MMA legend Nunes at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The 36-year-old has not fought since 2025 after she had to undergo neck surgery in January, but Belbita is backing a “fully healthy” version of Harrison over Nunes.

“[Nunes] may not be the same, so I don’t know. I may make a bold prediction here, [but] if Kayla Harrison is fully healthy, she has a great chance to win,” Belbita explained.

“It’s hard to say that I want her to win instead of Amanda because I love both of those girls and they did so much for the sport. But I think it’s Kayla’s time now; it’s Kayla’s turn.”

Harrison, who has only lost once in her 20-fight professional MMA career, submitted Julianna Pena in the second round of their UFC 316 title fight in New Jersey in 2025.