Nunes On Burnout That Ended Career, UFC 334 Return

Amanda Nunes has traced her 2023 retirement to exhaustion from juggling championship duties in two weight classes, and says the extended break she needed eventually made her eager to compete again at UFC 334.

The former featherweight and bantamweight titleholder will challenge Kayla Harrison for the 135-pound belt after stepping away from the sport for more than a year. Speaking to UFC News, Nunes described the toll of back-to-back title defenses without downtime between divisions, according to Sherdog.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to UFC 334 on Ticketmaster →

Why Nunes Left And What Changed Her Mind

Nunes said the demands of championship life had worn her down before she walked away. Once she took the break she had been craving, however, life outside the cage lost its appeal and she found herself restless.

Family considerations also factored into her decision to return. Nunes wanted her younger daughter to witness the competition and travel that her older daughter had grown up seeing during her title reign.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to UFC 334 on Ticketmaster →

The Harrison bout gave Nunes the type of difficult matchup she prefers. She called the current champion a tough challenge and the kind of opponent that appeals to her competitive instincts.

UFC 334 is scheduled for later this year, with Nunes attempting to reclaim a belt she once held in the same division.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Amanda Nunes reveals burnout behind retirement, why she's back for UFC 334