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The much-anticipated bout between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes might still be a possibility. Harrison, who dominated the PFL before joining the UFC, has long been linked to a potential fight with Nunes, the former two-division UFC champion. Their shared history of training together at American Top Team in Florida has only fueled speculation.
Amanda Nunes announced her retirement in June 2023 after a decisive win over Irene Aldana at UFC 289. This was 10 months before Harrison's impressive UFC debut at UFC 300, where she secured a submission victory over former champion Holly Holm. According to Harrison’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, Nunes retired partly due to Harrison's entry into the UFC.
“You have to understand, Amanda Nunes did everything,” Abdelaziz told Submission Radio. “She retired because Kayla was coming to the UFC, No. 1. She left ATT because Kayla was training there. She turned on the people who really helped her, like Dan Lambert and ‘Conan’ [Marcus Silveira] and everybody who helped her because Kayla was getting more attention and she’s grown, and [Nunes] knew they were going to have to fight. Amanda Nunes. her biggest nightmare in here, it was Kayla, and this is why she retired. She has a lot of pride in her. She retired because of Kayla Harrison. And now she said she wants to come back. I don’t think she ever comes back. but if she comes back, that’ll be amazing.”
After Harrison's UFC 300 win, Nunes took to social media, expressing disappointment that she wasn't called out in Harrison's post-fight speech. Harrison responded,
“She’s been retired for a while now. If Amanda was still here, and she was holding the belt, then I would have been calling for Amanda Nunes. But for all intents and purposes, I thought she was happily retired and living her best life.”
Since her retirement, Nunes has shown no serious interest in a comeback. Abdelaziz believes that Nunes' return or absence won't impact Harrison's legacy. He suggested that media pressure might influence Nunes to consider a comeback but emphasized it ultimately wouldn't matter to Harrison's career.
Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, has already achieved significant fame and success. Abdelaziz sees her as a future MMA star who could surpass the fame of her former training partner, Ronda Rousey. Harrison's journey in MMA is one of determination and relentless ambition, and she continues to carve her path toward becoming one of the biggest stars in the sport.
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