MIAMI – There’s no doubt Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes is one of the biggest fights in women’s MMA history. Yet, despite the weight of the matchup, the monumental UFC championship fight didn’t receive the importance many expected from the promotion.
Although still waiting on the rebooking, Harrison vs. Nunes was originally scheduled as the co-main event of UFC 324 – right underneath an interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. The UFC women’s bantamweight title bout ended up not coming to fruition in January when Harrison suffered a neck injury that required surgery.
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Even though the UFC CEO Dana White assured fans the matchup was going to happen once Harrison is fit, many were left with a bad taste, given arguably the biggest fights in women’s MMA history was placed underneath an interim title fight many thought shouldn’t be happening in the first place. Amid the criticism, Nunes had no issue with how her highly anticipated return was handled.
“If UFC put it in the main event, it would be great,” Nunes told MMA Junkie. “If it’s the co-main event, if it’s the first fight of the night, I want my belt back. It don’t bother me at all. I want to just step in the cage for the fight. This is what I like to do, what I’m born to do. I’m a champion. I’m going to go for the belt. The first fight of the night or the last one, I don’t care. I just want my belt back.”
Nunes is a former two-division UFC champion. She’s regarded as the greatest female MMA fighter of all time. “The Lioness” retired as a champion after completing her 11th UFC title win in 2023. She wanted to focus on her family life. Not long after hanging up the gloves, Kayla Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, switched over from the PFL, where she won multiple titles, and signed with the UFC. The American had a quick and dominant rise to the top, winning the UFC women’s bantamweight title and drawing Nunes back from retirement.
Nunes awaits a new date for her return. It all comes down to Harrison’s recovery from surgery. Now back in MMA competition mode, Nunes is happy to be in her element, but also antsy at getting back her UFC belt.
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“I know how to train. I know how to pace myself to be able to do a camp,” Nunes said. “I know the first camp didn’t work out, but I slowed down a little bit. I keep going to the gym. I keep doing the same thing, but with low intensity, and now I started picking up. So I’m just ready for the day. I feel like I’m ready for like any day that Kayla gives to me. I’m ready for her. And when she’s 100 percent, we’re going to make this happen.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Amanda Nunes: Initial co-main event spot for UFC comeback was no issue
