Nunes On Burnout Before Retirement

Amanda Nunes says she feared losing her legacy if she kept fighting through burnout.

The former two-division UFC champion, who returns Saturday at UFC 334 to challenge Kayla Harrison for the bantamweight title, told UFC.com she was mentally exhausted when she abruptly retired after stopping Irene Aldana in June 2023. Nunes placed both belts on the canvas moments after the decision was announced and walked away from the sport.

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Why Nunes Walked Away After UFC 289

"I didn't want to keep pushing through back then and have the risk to lose because I wasn't happy doing the thing that I love to do," Nunes said, per MMA Mania. "So, when I retired, I needed the break. I needed to reset and needed a clear mind."

The 38-year-old Brazilian cited several factors in her decision to retire. She wanted more time with her family, had lingering nerve damage from years of competition, and had already won everything available in women's mixed martial arts. The mental toll, though, proved decisive.

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Nunes has not competed in three years. She said the extended rest allowed her body to recover and her mind to reset, but eventually boredom set in. Harrison's arrival in the UFC and her capture of the bantamweight title gave Nunes the motivation to return. The two former American Top Team teammates were originally scheduled to meet in January, but Harrison required neck surgery that postponed the fight.

Nunes will attempt to become the first three-time UFC women's bantamweight champion when she faces Harrison in the co-main event at Madison Square Garden on November 14.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Burned-out Amanda Nunes feared losing if she kept fighting — ‘I wasn’t happy’ | UFC 334