Former two-division UFC champion Amanda Nunes will sit and wait for Kayla Harrison’s return from a neck surgery, and is hopeful that the match-up could land on the historic UFC event planned for June 14 at the White House.
“The Lioness” still went to Las Vegas despite the fight being pulled from the UFC 324 card in January due to Harrison’s injury, and stayed there to gelp Priscila Cachoeira prepare for her UFC Vegas 113 fight. Nunes, who now starts a career as head coach, is “super motivated” to return.
“I think she has six months to recover and give some feedback to the UFC,” Nunes told UFC Brasil. “I saw that she’s already back at the gym and that makes me really happy. I wish her all the best in her recovery and everything because of course I need her. How could I wish her bad? I want her to recover as fast as possible, and I’ll be right here. Everything depends on her now for us to make this fight happen, maybe at the White House. I think that would be perfect. And I’ll be ready.”
Nunes retired from the sport in 2023, when she beat Irene Aldana to defend the bantamweight title. Victorious in 16 of her 18 octagon appearances, including epic finishes over Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm and Miesha Tate, the Brazilian star said she feels the same hunger from the night the first became UFC champion.
“I am the Lioness,” Nunes said. “When I decided to come back, I jumped in head first again. I’m living my dream all over again from scratch, you know? Back at UFC 200, in that first interview we did, the Amanda you see today is an Amanda who wants to touch that belt again, with the same dream, the same focus, everything. And now much better than before.”
Harrison was on a roll in the UFC with a trio of wins over Holm, Ketlen Vieira and Julianna Peña after a very successful career in the PFL, but it’s still unclear when she will she able to resume training. Nunes said she doesn’t fear any type of ring rust ahead of an imminent return even though a White House clash with Harrison would be almost exactly three years to the date of her most recent bout.
“This camp was perfect,’ Nunes said. “My body, I’ve never been able to get into this kind of shape before. I’m 37 years old and I’m extremely mature, both outside and inside the cage. I’ve learned a lot, and I’m still discovering myself as an athlete, discovering things I had never discovered before. I’m still in a huge process of evolution, and I’m going to evolve even more. I still have a lot to bring back to MMA and to keep this division moving. I want to get my belt back, and I’ll defend it too. I’m back.”
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