Kayla Harrison Focuses on UFC Title Before Considering Amanda Nunes

Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes

Kayla Harrison is keeping her eyes on the prize: the UFC women’s bantamweight title. While fans may expect her to call out former champion Amanda Nunes, Kayla Harrison has a calculated approach, ensuring her focus remains on securing the belt before entertaining the idea of a showdown with her former training partner.

The topic gained traction after Julianna Pena’s post-fight callout of the retired Nunes following Pena’s contentious win over Raquel Pennington to reclaim the bantamweight title. Pena claimed her callout was justified because, according to her, “Kayla never mentioned her name” and other fighters in the division had also avoided it. Harrison, however, was quick to clarify her stance.

“I’m not going to call Amanda out,” Harrison said. “I’m definitely not going to call Amanda out until I have the title. Then when I feel like I’ve done that, I’m going to build the biggest fight in women’s MMA history. But until then, I’m calling for that title.”

Harrison acknowledges that Nunes remains a significant name in women’s MMA but notes that calling her out right now serves no purpose, as Nunes is retired and would need at least six months of anti-doping compliance to compete again.

“It just makes me look like an asshole eventually,” Harrison explained. “When everyone’s like, ‘Do you want to fight [Amanda]?’ I’m like yeah, and Amanda’s like, ‘Dude, leave me the f*ck [alone], like shut up! Leave me alone.’”

Despite the admiration Harrison holds for Nunes and her accomplishments, her immediate priority is a matchup against Pena. Harrison is determined to recover quickly from her victory over Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 and is eager to step into the octagon with Pena, provided the latter doesn’t take another extended absence.

“I’m not waiting two years,” Harrison emphasized. “I also need a little bit of time to recover from the weight cut... But I’m ready whenever. I will make myself ready.”

While Harrison’s long-term goal may involve Nunes, her immediate focus remains firmly set on the bantamweight title and proving herself as the division’s best.