Follow us on Google DiscoverJoe Rogan thinks it’s important that Kayla Harrison avoids Amanda Nunes’ hands on Saturday night.
The upcoming UFC 334 card at Madison Square Garden will be co-headlined by the return of a legend, as the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time ends her retirement.
After more than three years away, Nunes will challenge Harrison in a bid to regain the women’s bantamweight title, which the ‘Lioness’ once held alongside the featherweight belt as a two-time champion.
Rogan believes the key to the Brazilian’s success in New York was the talent she used to finish Cris Cyborg almost eight years ago.
Who leaves UFC 334 as women’s bantamweight champion? 🤔
Joe Rogan highlights Amanda Nunes’ huge striking advantage over Kayla Harrison
Harrison was originally scheduled to defend his 135-pound title for the first time last January, but a neck injury delayed his and Nunes’ return.
The champion’s recovery from surgery means the advantage she likely had thanks to the Brazilian’s retirement layoff may be gone. It’s now been 18 months since Harrison submitted Julianna Pena to add UFC gold to her illustrious combat sports resume.
Even though Harrison’s advantage might have diminished, Joe Rogan has no doubt that Nunes still possesses the striking advantage she has possessed over her rivals for most of her fighting career.
“She really shouldn’t be fighting at 135 (pounds),” the UFC color commentator said during an episode of his show. JRE MMA show. “She’s so tall…she has to commit suicide to reach 35.”
“Amanda hasn’t fought in a while, so you have to wonder if she’s suffering from ring rust? Or is she so good – she’s the best ever, isn’t she – is she so experienced that she’ll be able to lock up straight?”
“And then the big neck surgery (for Harrison),” he continued. “We had a disc replaced in his neck. It’s a big disc.
“The thing is, in stand-up, Amanda has such an advantage. You go to fight Cyborg, when Amanda knocked Cyborg out, dammit. If you knocked out Cyborg like that, Cyborg was a… destroyer.
“Some people just have a weird power,” he added.
Nunes hung up her gloves in June 2023 after dominating Irene Aldana for five rounds in Vancouver.
She will now attempt to begin a third reign at bantamweight, after being unable to leave the fight without wanting to compete again.
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