Joselyne Edwards confirmed she is the backup for Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes at UFC 334 on Nov. 14, and must make weight at 135 pounds; Gane faces Hokit in the main event.
From 32 reports by 19 outletsLatest Edwards confirms she is backup for Harrison vs. Nunes 5 updates 19 outlets
What we know
- Joselyne Edwards will weigh in as the official backup for Harrison vs. Nunes and would replace either fighter if needed; the UFC has not announced it.
- Harrison vs. Nunes was originally set for UFC 324 in January but fell through when Harrison needed neck surgery.
- UFC 334 takes place Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York, with Gane vs. Hokit as the main event.
- UFC Brasil confirmed Costa vs. Gordon, Johnson vs. Almeida and Elder vs. Sanches for the card.
Reported, not confirmed
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Edwards has missed weight three times in nine bantamweight fights and would have to make 135 pounds exactly with no allowance.
MMA Mania
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Drew Dober vs. Chris Duncan is on the card, according to Knockout Daily.
Knockout Daily
A title fight that has already been postponed once now has insurance. According to MMA Fighting, Joselyne Edwards will weigh in as the backup for Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes, ready to step in if either woman drops out. Edwards has since confirmed it herself on social media. The UFC has not announced it.
The choice carries a risk. Edwards, 31, is on a five-fight win streak, four of those wins by finish, and her latest was a unanimous decision over Norma Dumont in April. But she has missed weight three times in nine bantamweight fights, and as a backup she would have to make 135 pounds on the nose. Bloody Elbow and Cageside Press both pointed to Ailin Perez, who beat Edwards in 2024, targeted the spot and is on a winning run of her own.
The backup matters because of how long this fight took. Harrison vs. Nunes was booked for UFC 324 in January until Harrison needed neck surgery. Nunes, 38, came back from retirement for this bout and rejected calls to fight a contender in the meantime. The two were once teammates at American Top Team.
Above them, Ciryl Gane, 36, makes his first defense of the undisputed heavyweight title against Josh Hokit, 28. Gane's last title fight with Tom Aspinall ended in a no-contest after an eye poke, and Hokit has made that a theme of his camp. He posted a gym video of himself being pepper-sprayed by a training partner after both thought the spray was fake. The partner called it "like a Ciryl Gane eye poke thing." Gane then knocked out Alex Pereira to take the interim belt, a finish that drew complaints about shots to the back of the head.
The card at Madison Square Garden is filling out. Caio Borralho meets Yousri Belgaroui, and the lightweight bouts Melquizael Costa vs. Jared Gordon and Evan Elder vs. Samuel Sanches have been confirmed by UFC Brasil. Drew Dober vs. Chris Duncan is also reported.
Watch for an official UFC announcement on Edwards, and for whether she hits 135 pounds at the official weigh-ins the day before the card.
The choice carries a risk. Edwards, 31, is on a five-fight win streak, four of those wins by finish, and her latest was a unanimous decision over Norma Dumont in April. But she has missed weight three times in nine bantamweight fights, and as a backup she would have to make 135 pounds on the nose. Bloody Elbow and Cageside Press both pointed to Ailin Perez, who beat Edwards in 2024, targeted the spot and is on a winning run of her own.
The backup matters because of how long this fight took. Harrison vs. Nunes was booked for UFC 324 in January until Harrison needed neck surgery. Nunes, 38, came back from retirement for this bout and rejected calls to fight a contender in the meantime. The two were once teammates at American Top Team.
Above them, Ciryl Gane, 36, makes his first defense of the undisputed heavyweight title against Josh Hokit, 28. Gane's last title fight with Tom Aspinall ended in a no-contest after an eye poke, and Hokit has made that a theme of his camp. He posted a gym video of himself being pepper-sprayed by a training partner after both thought the spray was fake. The partner called it "like a Ciryl Gane eye poke thing." Gane then knocked out Alex Pereira to take the interim belt, a finish that drew complaints about shots to the back of the head.
The card at Madison Square Garden is filling out. Caio Borralho meets Yousri Belgaroui, and the lightweight bouts Melquizael Costa vs. Jared Gordon and Evan Elder vs. Samuel Sanches have been confirmed by UFC Brasil. Drew Dober vs. Chris Duncan is also reported.
Watch for an official UFC announcement on Edwards, and for whether she hits 135 pounds at the official weigh-ins the day before the card.
- Summary
- Joselyne Edwards confirmed she is the backup for Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes at UFC 334 on Nov. 14, and must make weight at 135 pounds; Gane faces Hokit in the main event.
- Key points (one per line)
- Joselyne Edwards confirmed on social media she will be the backup for Harrison vs. Nunes; the UFC has not announced it
Edwards is on a five-fight win streak but has missed weight three times in nine bantamweight fights
Gane makes his first title defense against Josh Hokit in the UFC 334 main event at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 14
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- ActuMMA | https://www.actumma.com/le-clan-de-josh-hokit-devoile-sa-strategie-pour-battre-ciryl-gane-a-lufc-334/194065/
La Sueur | https://lasueur.com/josh-hokit-balance-son-plan-pour-vaincre-ciryl-gane-24-10-2026
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/amanda-nunes-says-kayla-harrison-still-hasnt-fixed-the-holes-she-found-in-sparring
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/the-man-who-beat-alex-pereira-in-kickboxing-now-gets-caio-borralho-at-msg
La Sueur | https://lasueur.com/ufc-334-avec-ciryl-gane-3-nouvelles-affiches-officialisees-26-10-2026
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/drew-dober-met-his-father-at-18-and-built-the-ufcs-lightweight-knockout-record
MiddleEasy | https://middleeasy.com/mma-news/evan-elder-samuel-sanches-ufc334-november14/
MiddleEasy | https://middleeasy.com/mma-news/melquizael-costa-jared-gordon-lightweight-ufc334/
MMA Fighting | https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/518223/joselyne-edwards-to-serve-as-backup-fighter-for-kayla-harrison-vs-amanda-nunes-at-ufc-334
Sherdog | https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Joselyne-Edwards-reportedly-named-backup-for-HarrisonNunes-at-UFC-334-203405
Sherdog | https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Joselyne-Edwards-could-get-UFC-334-title-shot-as-backup-203405
MMA Mania | https://www.mmamania.com/ufc-news/482424/ufc-picks-joselyne-edwards-as-back-up-fighter-for-kayla-harrison-vs-amanda-nunes-at-madison-square-garden
Bloody Elbow | https://bloodyelbow.com/2026/10/29/kayla-harrison-vs-amanda-nunes-gets-official-backup-fighter-for-ufc-334-as-ailin-perez-misses-out/
Cageside Press | https://cagesidepress.com/2026/10/29/ufc-334-title-fight-gets-unexpected-back-up-fighter/
MMA News | https://www.mmanews.com/article/who-ufc-334-backup-fighter-kayla-harrison-vs-amanda-nunes
Combat Sports UK | https://combatsportsuk.com/news/e62df234-d291-4d58-94a5-ee655b3e957f/joselyne-edwards-backup-fighter-kayla-harrison-amanda-nunes-ufc-334
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/kayla-harrison-vs-amanda-nunes-now-has-a-plan-b-and-shes-won-five-straight
Heavy on UFC | https://heavy.com/sports/ufc/ufc-334-title-fight-official-backup/
FightTime.ru | https://fighttime.ru/news/item/44542-nazvan-zapasnoj-uchastnik-titulnogo-boya-na-ufc-334-v-nyu-jorke.html
Pos-Luta | https://posluta.com/amanda-nunes-volta-da-aposentadoria-para-desafiar-kayla-harrison-pelo-cinturao-dos-galos-no-ufc-334/
MMA Knockout on Sports Illustrated | https://www.si.com/fannation/mma/news/ufc-334-backup-fighter-revealed-kayla-harrison-vs-amanda-nunes-title-fight
Fajador | https://fajador.com/es/la-panamena-jocelyn-edwards-sera-la-peleadora-reserva-del-combate-titular-entre-harrison-nunes-en-ufc-334/
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/amanda-nunes-passed-on-an-interim-belt-to-wait-for-kayla-harrison-and-now-msg-gets-it
Fajador | https://fajador.com/es/la-panamena-jocelyn-edwards-sera-la-peleadora-reserva-del-combate-titular-entre-kayla-harrison-y-amanda-nunes-en-ufc-334/
Combat Sports UK | https://combatsportsuk.com/news/164d57be-3cee-4ad6-840a-910370a0b187/josh-hokit-pepper-sprayed-in-the-eyes-in-the-gym-after-thinking-the-spray-was-fake
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/josh-hokit-had-himself-pepper-sprayed-to-prep-for-ciryl-ganes-eye-pokes
La Sueur | https://lasueur.com/nouvelle-provocation-josh-hokit-ciryl-gane-avant-ufc-334-1-11-2026
ActuMMA | https://www.actumma.com/josh-hokit-provoque-ciryl-gane-avant-leur-combat-a-lufc-334/194417/
Ag. Fight | https://agfight.com/ufc/joselyne-edwards-e-escalada-como-reserva-de-kayla-harrison-vs-amanda-nunes-no-ufc-334/
Bloody Elbow | https://bloodyelbow.com/2026/11/01/watch-josh-hokit-get-pepper-sprayed-to-prepare-for-ciryl-ganes-eye-pokes-ahead-of-ufc-334/
Fight Site Croatia | https://www.jutarnji.hr/sportske/fightsite/ufc/josh-hokit-na-bizaran-i-ironican-nacin-ismijao-ciryla-ganea-treniram-sa-suzavcem-u-ocima-15761353
Kimura | https://www.kimura.se/video-josh-hokit-forbereder-sig-med-pepparspray-infor-ciryl-gane/
Last edited:
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Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States
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What they're saying
Championship Rounds@ChampRDSIn the story
Josh Hokit is preparing for Ciryl Gane’s eye pokes by getting pepper sprayed 😭 “It actually f*cking burns. I thought this sh*t was fake.” (via @Josh_HokitUFC)
Nov 1 · View on X
Guilherme Cruz@guicruzzzIn the story
Joselyne Edwards will be the backup fighter for Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes at UFC 334, sources told myself and @DamonMartin
Oct 29 · View on X
UFC Brasil@UFCBrasilIn the story
Lutas confirmadas para #UFC334 🇧🇷🔥 Quem vai sair com a vitória no Octógono? Não perca! Dia 14 de novembro, ao vivo somente no @ParamountPlusBR.
Oct 25 · View on X
Ag. Fight@AgFightIn the story
🚨BREAKING: Melquizael 'Melk' Costa enfrenta Jared Gordon no UFC 334, no dia 14 de novembro, em Nova York, no peso-leve (70 kg).
Oct 1 · View on X
theincredible_hok@theincredible_hokIn the story
A post on Instagram
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joselyne_edwards@joselyne_edwardsIn the story
A post on Instagram
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Fighters in this story
Ciryl Gane
Josh Hokit
Amanda Nunes
Kayla Harrison
Drew Dober
Joselyne Edwards
Cesar Almeida
Jared Gordon
Melquizael Costa
Samuel Sanches
Yousri Belgaroui
Evan Elder
Donte Johnson
Cody East
Jon Jones
Tom AspinallMore photos
How the story developed
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Edwards confirms she is backup for Harrison vs. Nunes
Ag. Fight
MMA Fighting
La SueurSources
ActuMMA
MiddleEasy
Bloody Elbow
Combat Sports UK
Cageside Press
MMA News
Heavy on UFC
FightTime.ru
Pos-Luta
MMA Knockout on Sports Illustrated
Fight Site Croatia
KimuraSummarized with AI from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
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