Amanda Nunes is mentally and physically sound to make her return to the UFC, and now she has the perfect dance partner to bring out her best.
After revealing in April that she intended to come out of retirement to challenge the UFC 316 title fight winner, Nunes' dance partner was solidified Saturday when Kayla Harrison captured the women's bantamweight title from Julianna Peña at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Nunes (11-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) was cageside watching the contest, then entered the octagon to face off with Harrison (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) after she submitted Peña in the second round. It was a respectful but tense moment between the former American Top Team teammates, and now the build to a significant contest for women's MMA is on.
"Honestly, if I stayed at American Top Team this fight might not ever happen," Nunes told ESPN post-fight at UFC 316. "I left. It was my decision. Now I have my own gym, my own camp with my own coaches that I set up everything with. I'm going to get in camp full time. I've been training here and there, always in shape. But honestly like November-December, I'm going to be ready to go."
Nunes said she made her decision to come back to fighting when her young children began to sleep through the full night. She reiterated previous comments that this is no a one-off, and she intends to run through the weight class again.
UFC CEO Dana White said Nunes must first re-enter the promotion's drug testing pool before a date can be scheduled. With Nunes' timeline to fight this year, however, that would mean re-entry would have to happen almost immediately.
Nunes, 37, appears ready to make that happen, however, and said this matchup with Harrison, 34, is one that's going to bring out her best in every way.
“As soon as she got a microphone, she used to talk about me. From that moment, we already started getting like, not different, but like we always respect each other in the gym – but we knew the energy. We never would be able to connect.
"I like when the opponents can bring me fear, bring me adrenaline. Kayla is one of those kinds of fighters. This is how I show up, when you threaten me with something. I know Kayla is that kind of fighter. This is what I like to feel. I like to be in danger. This is how 'The Lioness' comes out."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Amanda Nunes reacts to Kayla Harrison's UFC title win, faceoff, more
English (US) ·