The greatest female fighter in MMA history is back, and she’s not returning to the Octagon for a retirement tour. Amanda Nunes is coming for gold, and UFC bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison is standing directly in her way.
After walking away from the sport on top, Nunes returns at UFC 334 on Saturday night in New York. The former two-division champion insists she never lost her competitive fire, but needed time away to rediscover her passion. Now, with Harrison holding the bantamweight crown, Nunes has found something she hasn’t had in years, a new challenge.
“Honestly like, after two years, I was done. Ready to be home. After that I started (thinking) I’m going to go back. I cannot stay without being a fighter life,” Nunes told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“When Kayla signed with UFC and I saw the division putting some new girls and (it) kind of excited me. I cleaned both divisions (135 and 145) and I kind of (didn’t) know what to do anymore. I saw those girls sign and I got excited and it was when I can show I really want to do this again. And now I’m here.”
Nunes and Harrison were originally scheduled to fight in January before Harrison’s neck injury forced a postponement. While initially frustrated by the delay, Nunes welcomed the extra preparation time and the opportunity to fight in New York.
“Giving me more time was better, and (to) be here in New York, amazing. I want to do fights in all the places in America because every time Vegas, Vegas, Vegas, I kind of like I want to go somewhere else. When I find out it was supposed to be here I was so happy,” she said.
“I come to New York when I was 20-years-old to chase this dream and now I’m going to fight in New York. Awesome, this is amazing. When I find out she was injured and everything I kind of like alright. I was a little upset because I have plans.”
Nunes walked away from MMA at the top of her game, but retirement wasn’t about losing her competitive fire. The former two-division champion explained how stepping away allowed her to recharge mentally, physically, and emotionally before returning to the cage.
“This time off was amazing for me. It’s not that I (lost) my belt, and I was like out of shape, I was losing fights, I was battling with my career. I left (at) the top. I’m not here today as a challenger. I’m here today as a double champion still. The break was very important for me. It’s like your job, sometimes you need a break, right? To like reset your life, reset everything and come back stronger,” said Nunes.
“I needed a break, I did the break at the right time, I put my belts on the floor and let the division (go) on too. In that moment I needed it for my mind, for my body, for my soul, I needed a reset. I love to do this. I don’t want to come here and then do this just to do (it).”
Former teammates Nunes and Harrison are preparing for battle, but is there actually bad blood between them? Despite suggestions from Harrison’s coach, Dan Lambert, that tensions run deeper than competition, Nunes made it clear there’s no hatred.
“No hate here. It’s not about hate. Hate nobody. It’s about the challenge that’s Kayla’s bringing, and how great this is going to be for women’s MMA. The only thing I know (I) would never have done (this) training the same mat, with the same coach and the same gym,” she said.
“This is what is the problem was in the whole situation, but hate? I don’t hate Kayla. Why? Why would I hate Kayla? If this is a very good challenge for me, for her too, for women’s MMA to grow. Why’s everything about hate? Why is not this is a fight. We want to prove who is the best girl in the cage that night. So it’s not hate, at all.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Amanda Nunes above. She faces Kayla Harrison at UFC 334 on Saturday night.