Melissa Croden: Harrison-Nunes Winner Eyes Retirement or 145
Melissa Croden breaks down Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes at UFC 334 and what a win means for each fighter's future.
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Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes are rebooked for November at UFC 334, and ranked UFC bantamweight contender Melissa Croden says the winner could reshape the division or walk away from the sport entirely. Croden, who fought Chelsea Chandler at UFC Edmonton, broke down the title fight in detail beforehand, calling it one of the hardest fights in the sport to handicap.
"It's 50-50, right? It could go either way," Croden said. "I think the Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes fight is going to be, again, who shows up that day. They both work hard."
What Happens If Kayla Harrison Wins?
Melissa Croden believes a Kayla Harrison victory over Amanda Nunes could push her to chase a second title at featherweight. "If Kayla wins, she's probably going to try and get the 145, the featherweight division opened back up to be double champ," Croden said, noting the conversation came up recently with her own gym teammates. Harrison has already cleaned out women's featherweight once and holds wins over the division's best, so a push to reopen 145 pounds for her isn't far fetched if she gets through Nunes.
The bigger question hanging over Harrison, according to Croden, is how her body responds in the cage after the neck injury that sidelined her. "A neck injury is no freaking joke, man," Croden said. "Then something that required surgery. So it's like, how did her rehab go? Is she going to be the same after that? We just don't know these things until we see it." Croden added that Harrison's preparation habits give her confidence the former judo Olympian is doing things right in recovery, but stressed that nothing replaces live Octagon data.
Does Amanda Nunes Retire Again If She Wins?
Melissa Croden expects Amanda Nunes to walk away from competition again if she beats Kayla Harrison at UFC 334. "If Amanda wins, she's going to retire again, which I think everybody would assume that," Croden said. Nunes already retired once as a two-division champion before coming back for this rematch cycle, and her last outing also took place in Canada, a detail Croden pointed to as a strange bit of symmetry heading into the rebooked fight.
Bantamweight Depth Is Finally Getting Attention
Melissa Croden says the women's bantamweight division is being actively rebuilt by the UFC after years of being treated as an afterthought. "Two years ago when my manager was talking to the UFC about me getting on Contender Series, they were like, 'No bantamweights this year. She's too old,'" Croden said. "So suddenly they need bantamweights. I could have had me like two years ago, man." Croden sees the Harrison-Nunes rebooking as part of a broader push to restock a weight class the promotion has acknowledged was thin, with more women getting signed in the lead up to the title fight.
Betting Angle
With Harrison coming off a serious neck injury and Nunes returning from her own layoff, oddsmakers and bettors are staring at a fight with real uncertainty on both sides of the cage. Croden, who now does betting picks for a sponsor, openly admitted she doesn't trust her own read on this one, calling it a true coin flip. For bettors, that uncertainty argues against loading up heavy on either side until fight week gives a clearer picture of how each woman looks in camp footage and media workouts. Line movement closer to November should tell the real story once trainers and insiders start weighing in on who looks sharp.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes rebooked for?
Melissa Croden said the Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes title fight has been rebooked for November at UFC 334.
What would Kayla Harrison do if she beats Amanda Nunes?
According to ranked bantamweight Melissa Croden, a win over Amanda Nunes could lead Kayla Harrison to push for the UFC to reopen the featherweight division so she can become a two-division champion.
Will Amanda Nunes retire if she beats Kayla Harrison?
Melissa Croden said she expects Amanda Nunes to retire again if she defeats Kayla Harrison at UFC 334, continuing the pattern from her previous retirement.
