Amanda Nunes Hints She May Be Ready to Answer UFC’s Call

October 9, 2024
4 months

Amanda Nunes rode off into the sunset in June 2023. While Nunes didn’t create another highlight-reel finish, the Brazilian superstar dominated Irene Aldana at UFC 289 to put a stamp on her case for the greatest women’s MMA fighter of all time. But Nunes, 36, may feel like she still has unfinished business, according to MMAfighting latest news.

Nunes posted a video on Instagram while wearing her gear from The Ultimate Fighter and telling UFC CEO Dana White to call her. If Nunes was willing to come back, her return would inject some life into the women’s bantamweight division.

Since Nunes retired, the division has been taken over by fighters who primarily go the distance. But that wasn’t who Nunes was as a fighter. She produced many of the most spectacular finishes in the history of women’s MMA.

One of the questions surrounding Nunes is how long would she be willing to stay.

Trilogy Fight with Peña Looms Large

No disrespect to Julianna Peña, but she isn’t one of the most prominent names in women’s MMA. Peña shocked the world in 2021 when she submitted Nunes to steal the belt. However, when Peña rematched Nunes the following year, Nunes dominated her from pillar to post.

An injury forced Peña to pull out of a scheduled third fight. When Nunes accepted the fight with Aldana, Peña attended the fight expecting a callout from Nunes. When Nunes chose to retire instead, the best MMA news site shows Peña was furious in the crowd.

Peña recently won a controversial decision over Raquel Pennington to regain the title. Seeing Peña on top may infuriate Nunes and be enough to draw her back into combat. However, since Peña’s decision win over Pennington was close, and many media members believed Pennington won the fight, the UFC may consider a rematch.

But if Nunes agrees to fight, they may be willing to move her to the front of the line. The question is whether the UFC would be willing to put Nunes right back in a title fight.

That would likely be the case, but Nunes may like to have one fight back to off the rust.

Would Nunes Fight Harrison?

Kayla Harrison has already announced her desire to fight Peña for the belt next. The former PFL champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo has all the credentials of a championship fighter. While Harrison’s last win over Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 was underwhelming, anyone who fights Harrison will have to deal with her excellent grappling and improving striking.

One wrinkle with Nunes and Harrison is their shared history. While Harrison was in the PFL, she would train with Nunes. It isn’t always easy to convince friends to fight each other, according to online boxing news.

This would be one of the only superfights available in a women’s division right now. There was some thought that the PFL could have paired up Harrison and Cris Cyborg, who is under contract with the PFL, but Harrison chose to leave for the UFC instead of taking that fight.

Fighting Nunes would be a legacy fight for Harrison. But how deep does their friendship go? Would either woman want to have that type of battle with one another?

Why is Their Excitement Surrounding a Potential Return?

When the women’s bantamweight weight class debuted in the UFC, there were plenty of exciting fights and memorable names. Ronda Rousey carried the torch for what was a division that was capable of producing big fights with good name recognition.

Even after Rousey lost to Holly Holm, Nunes and others were able to keep the division afloat with memorable title fights. Nunes produced one of the most spectacular knockouts in promotion history when she knocked out Cris Cyborg in the first round to claim the featherweight title.

Nunes is one of the only UFC champions in history to hold belts in multiple weight divisions and defend them both. During Nunes’ career, she was fortunate enough to come along at the right time to fight many top stars at or near her prime.

Nunes has wins over Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Holly Holm, and Cris Cyborg. All of those fighters are former UFC champions who have had success outside the organization as well. Nunes didn’t just win those fights by narrow margins either.

Nunes dominated. There were few fighters, according to MMA latest updates, who could keep up with Nunes in the octagon. During Nunes’ fight with Holm, she figured out how to knock Holm out with a high kick because it was Holm’s signature move.

Nunes delivered on that promise, landing a nasty head kick that put Holm out of the fight. Nunes also bullied Rousey, who was the one of the first major mainstream MMA stars.

Where Have All the Stars Gone?

While the UFC will need to work hard to develop new stars, right now, Pennington is the No. 1 contender. While she is a solid fighter, she isn’t necessarily an exciting one to watch. Pennington prefers to work out of the clinch and with striking. She doesn’t finish a lot of fights. Harrison has good name recognition, but her style can be hit or miss. During the fight against Viera, Harrison struggled to implement her grappling and had to grind out a decision.

Holly Holm and Miesha Tate have seen their skills decline since they aged. Mayra Bueno Silva looked like she had potential, but couldn’t hang with Pennington’s striking.

Nunes was seldom boring. She has the grappling and striking credentials to pull out any attack at any time. While there is always a concern about a fighter coming back from retirement, I would welcome a return by Nunes.

Nunes was willing to engage to make fights exciting. Hopefully, she can still do that after a little bit of a layoff.

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By Dean McHugh.

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