UFC 334 Title Fight Gets Unexpected Back-Up Fighter

UFC 334 has two title fights lined up for New York City next month, and one now has a back-up fighter attached.

The card at Madison Square Garden is set to be headlined by heavyweight champ Ciryl Gane taking on Josh Hokit, while the long anticipated bantamweight title fight between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes serves as co-main event.

It’s the co-main event that now has a back-up fighter. Joselyne Edwards is expected to weigh-in for the card, a development first reported by MMA Fighting. And it’s a bit of a surprise selection, given Ailin Perez has won seven straight fights, and holds a win over Edwards.

In terms of the promotion’s official rankings, Perez does sit one spot behind Edwards, who has won her last five. Still, no one wants to see a back-up even required for Harrison vs. Nunes, which is the biggest fight the UFC could possibly make on the women’s side at the moment.

The pair were originally scheduled to compete in January, only for Harrison to be forced out of the fight due to a neck injury. A former PFL tournament champ (two times) and Olympic gold medalist in judo (also twice), Harrison has not competed since winning the UFC women’s bantamweight championship by defeating Julianna Pena last year.

Amanda Nunes, meanwhile, retired following a win over Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in Vancouver back in 2023. She’s returning for the first time since for a fight between former teammates at American Top Team.

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