Joselyne Edwards Named UFC 334 Backup for Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes, but Is Cris Cyborg the Bigger Fight?

An analysis of the UFC women’s bantamweight title picture, the next championship contender, and why a Cris Cyborg superfight could be the biggest opportunity for the UFC 334 winner.

The UFC has officially put a backup plan in place for one of the biggest women’s MMA fights of 2026. Joselyne Edwards will serve as the backup fighter for Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes at UFC 334, scheduled for November 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

While Edwards has earned her opportunity through an impressive five-fight winning streak, her selection raises an interesting question about the future of the UFC women’s bantamweight division.

What happens after Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes finally settle their rivalry?

The winner will emerge from one of the most anticipated fights in women’s mixed martial arts history, but the next available title challenger might not deliver the same level of international attention, commercial appeal, or historical significance.

With former UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce, Invicta FC, and PFL champion Cris Cyborg currently outside an exclusive MMA promotional contract, the possibility of a historic superfight could represent a significantly larger opportunity than a conventional championship defense against Edwards.

Joselyne Edwards Earns UFC 334 Backup Role With Five-Fight Winning Streak

According to an October 28 report from MMA Fighting, Edwards has been selected to weigh in as the designated alternate for the UFC 334 women’s bantamweight championship bout.

The Panamanian contender has quietly developed into one of the division’s most successful active fighters.

Edwards enters UFC 334 with an 18-6 professional MMA record, including a 9-4 UFC record. Her current five-fight winning streak features four stoppage victories, followed by a unanimous decision over Norma Dumont in April 2026.

Her recent victories include wins over Tamires Vidal, Chelsea Chandler, Priscila Cachoeira, Nora Cornolle, and Norma Dumont.

Those results have established Edwards as a legitimate championship contender. However, being deserving of a title opportunity and being capable of generating a blockbuster championship event are two different things.

That distinction becomes particularly important when considering the drawing power of the Harrison vs. Nunes matchup.

Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes Is a Rare Women’s MMA Superfight

The UFC 334 co-main event brings together two of the most accomplished athletes in women’s combat sports.

Kayla Harrison enters as the reigning UFC women’s bantamweight champion, a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist, and a former PFL tournament champion. Her combination of elite grappling, physical strength, and competitive credentials has made her one of the most recognizable names in women’s MMA.

Amanda Nunes returns from retirement as a former UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion. Widely regarded as one of the greatest female fighters in history, Nunes built her legacy through victories over numerous world champions, including Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, Miesha Tate, Valentina Shevchenko, and Cris Cyborg.

Originally scheduled for UFC 324 in January, the fight was postponed after Harrison underwent neck surgery. Nunes elected to wait for the champion rather than pursue another opponent.

The matchup carries a rare combination of sporting significance, historical relevance, and mainstream recognition.

But once the fight concludes, the UFC could face a familiar promotional challenge: How do you follow a superfight with another event that feels equally important?

Would Joselyne Edwards vs. the UFC 334 Winner Be a Commercial Step Back?

Edwards deserves recognition for her accomplishments. Five consecutive victories in the UFC are difficult to achieve, and her recent finishing ability demonstrates considerable improvement.

However, Edwards has not yet established the mainstream name recognition of Harrison, Nunes, or Cyborg.

A championship matchup featuring Edwards against the UFC 334 winner would be a legitimate sporting contest, but it would likely require significantly more promotional investment to generate comparable attention.

Consider the potential scenarios.

If Harrison defeats Nunes, she would add a victory over one of the most celebrated fighters in women’s MMA history to her already impressive résumé. A subsequent title defense against Edwards could be important for the bantamweight rankings, but it would lack the established rivalry and crossover appeal of a matchup against Cyborg.

If Nunes wins, her return to championship status would create an equally interesting situation. Having already retired once after conquering two UFC weight classes, would another routine title defense provide the motivation and historical significance needed to extend her comeback?

A fight against Edwards would offer another opportunity to defend the championship. A rematch against Cris Cyborg, however, would revisit one of the most consequential rivalries in women’s MMA history.

That is the difference between promoting a championship defense and promoting an event with a compelling historical narrative.

Cris Cyborg vs. Kayla Harrison: The Superfight That Never Happened

For years, a potential fight between Cris Cyborg and Kayla Harrison generated considerable discussion among MMA fans.

Both athletes competed under the PFL umbrella, although the anticipated matchup never materialized.

Harrison eventually moved to the UFC, where she captured the bantamweight championship, while Cyborg continued adding to her historic accomplishments across MMA and professional boxing.

Cyborg’s résumé includes world championships in five major MMA organizations: Strikeforce, Invicta FC, UFC, Bellator, and PFL.

Following her August 2026 victory over Ketlen Vieira, Cyborg improved to 30-2 in professional MMA, reaching 30 career victories while extending her winning streak to 10 consecutive MMA fights.

Her 19 world championship fight victories across her career have helped establish her as one of the most accomplished champions in the sport.

A potential Cyborg vs. Harrison matchup would bring together two athletes whose rivalry has existed across promotional boundaries for years.

Unlike a newly introduced championship challenger, the promotional storyline would already exist.

The matchup could also present a compelling clash of styles, featuring Harrison’s Olympic-level judo and grappling against Cyborg’s striking, physicality, and extensive five-round championship experience.

Of course, any such fight would require both athletes to agree on contractual terms and a suitable weight class. Cyborg has primarily competed above the UFC’s current 135-pound championship limit.

Nevertheless, the potential commercial appeal of the matchup is difficult to ignore.

Amanda Nunes vs. Cris Cyborg 2: An Unfinished Chapter in Women’s MMA

If Amanda Nunes defeats Kayla Harrison at UFC 334, perhaps no potential matchup would generate more historical discussion than a second fight with Cris Cyborg.

Their first meeting took place at UFC 232 in December 2018, when Nunes defeated Cyborg by first-round knockout to capture the UFC women’s featherweight championship.

It was one of the most significant victories in women’s MMA history.

However, the two athletes never fought again.

Since that defeat, Cyborg has rebuilt her championship legacy through an extended undefeated run, winning titles in multiple organizations while also competing successfully in professional boxing.

A rematch would provide a rare opportunity to revisit a historic result nearly eight years later.

For Nunes, it would be a chance to reinforce her legacy against one of the few women whose overall championship accomplishments can be compared with her own.

For Cyborg, it would be an opportunity to avenge her last MMA defeat and potentially add another defining victory to an already remarkable career.

Unlike an Edwards title defense, Nunes vs. Cyborg 2 would come with years of existing footage, recognizable championship history, and a storyline familiar to longtime MMA audiences.

It would not need to manufacture a rivalry. The history is already there.

Could the UFC 334 Winner Be Left Without Another Blockbuster Opponent?

The UFC women’s bantamweight division has talented contenders, but few possess the established international profile of Harrison, Nunes, or Cyborg.

Edwards represents the traditional merit-based route toward a championship opportunity. Her winning streak and divisional position support her case for a title shot.

But the UFC must also consider the scale of its biggest events.

The Harrison vs. Nunes winner could emerge with enormous momentum and heightened public interest. Following that achievement with a matchup against a less-established commercial attraction risks losing some of the attention generated by UFC 334.

This does not mean Edwards should be denied an opportunity or that a Cyborg superfight is guaranteed to outperform a conventional defense. Actual commercial results would depend on promotion, scheduling, distribution, and fan demand.

It does mean the UFC has an important strategic decision ahead.

The promotion could continue with the established rankings and present Edwards as the next challenger, or it could explore a high-profile cross-promotional legacy fight involving Cyborg.

Neither path is automatic. Edwards’ backup designation does not guarantee her the next title shot, and there is no announced agreement for Cyborg to face either athlete.

The Biggest Winner of UFC 334 Could Have an Even Bigger Fight Waiting

UFC 334 is positioned to deliver a defining moment for women’s MMA.

Kayla Harrison has the opportunity to defeat a legendary champion and strengthen her own place in the sport’s history. Amanda Nunes has the opportunity to return from retirement and prove that her championship era is not over.

Joselyne Edwards has earned the right to be part of that conversation through her performances inside the Octagon.

But when discussing what comes next, there is an important distinction between the next available contender and the biggest available fight.

Cris Cyborg represents a unique opportunity because of her championship history, existing relationships with both fighters, and recognizable legacy in women’s mixed martial arts.

The question following UFC 334 may not simply be who deserves the next title shot. It may be whether the UFC wants another championship defense or another historic superfight.

And if the winner of Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes is looking for the biggest possible challenge, the conversation surrounding Cris Cyborg could become impossible to ignore.