“Double Retirement Fight”: Ariel Helwani Makes Bold UFC 334 Prediction
Ariel Helwani suggests UFC 334 could feature a “double retirement fight,” with major implications for both fighters’ futures.
Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes are finally set to settle their long-awaited rivalry in the Octagon for the UFC women’s bantamweight title at UFC 334. The rivalry between the two fighters has been brewing for years, and Ariel Helwani believes the fight can turn out to be even bigger than it already is, having major implications for both fighters’ futures.
Ariel Helwani Raises Retirement Question Ahead of Harrison-Nunes
The bout between Nunes and Harrison was initially scheduled to take place at UFC 324 this January. However, the highly anticipated matchup fell apart when Harrison sustained a neck injury that required surgery. The Olympic gold medalist was forced to pull out of the event just days before the fight, leaving fans frustrated and waiting several months to see two of the biggest stars in women’s MMA face each other in the Octagon.
The two-time defending champion and the 2012 gold medalist will now square off in the bantamweight division at Madison Square Garden on November 14. Harrison will be putting her title on the line in what the UFC believes to be “one of the most anticipated women’s title fights in the history of the sport”. Moreover, it will be Nunes’ return to the Octagon after over three long years away.
Helwani believes the stakes could extend well beyond the championship.
“This could be a double retirement fight,” Helwani said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “If Kayla Harrison wins, there’s literally nothing else for her to do in this sport.”
Moreover, the MMA analyst was quick to point to the unique circumstances surrounding Harrison. For the longest time, Nunes had been regarded as one of the best female fighters in MMA history. A victory over Nunes at Madison Square Garden would give Harrison a unique opportunity to defend the belt Nunes holds.
“And if Amanda wins, what, like, who’s coming up at 135 right now?” Helwani added. “This could be a double retirement fight.”
Two Bantamweight Queens Finally Get Their Fight
The intense rivalry between Harrison and Nunes will add to the appeal of the highly anticipated bout, generating even more interest. Nunes announced her return to MMA after a brief hiatus, after ruling both the featherweight and bantamweight divisions. Harrison’s arrival in the UFC played a pivotal role in getting her back in the Octagon.
The two fighters previously trained together at American Top Team, adding yet another layer to an already important matchup.
Furthermore, there is a broader connection to yet another bantamweight champion. Back in 2016, Nunen famously defeated Rousey; however, the latter made a comeback to MMA in 2026 to face Gina Carano, giving MMA yet another major storyline.
Meanwhile, for Harrison, this would be her first bout since June 2025 and her first title defense after returning to the sport following a severe neck injury, forcing her to withdraw from the previous fight.
With two legendary fighters, years of history, a brewing rivalry, and a delayed matchup finally coming together, Harrison vs. Nunes has all the ingredients required to become one of women’s MMA’s biggest events of the year.
