Fighter Amanda Nunes Announces Her Re-Entry into Competition for Pursuit of Title Championships: "I'll Be Prepared"
Amanda Nunes Set to Take on UFC 316 Winners!
The buzz is real – the legendary Amanda Nunes, freshly inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, is ready to make her comeback!
Her mission? To face off against the winners of the UFC 316 co-main event, aiming to reclaim the women's bantamweight title[1]. In a candid exchange with ESPN's Brett Okamoto, Nunes revealed her excitement for her anticipated return[1].
"I freakin' missed it so much," she shared, adding, "My baby's grown now, and she didn't sleep much as a baby. I was worried about our sleep cause fighters need their Z's. But now my baby's bigger and I'm ready to roll!"[1]
The Lioness retired in June 2023 following her triumph against Irene Aldana, but many speculated if she was bidding farewell a tad prematurely[1]. UFC CEO Dana White shared similar thoughts, expressing his belief that Nunes departed the ring too soon[1].
Nunes boasts a record-breaking resume as the greatest female fighter of all time and one of the best ever, regardless of gender[1]. With a remarkable 23-5 record, Nunes also boasts an unparalleled run as the UFC's bantamweight and featherweight champion[1].
From 2015 through 2023, Nunes reigned supreme, going 14-1, and claiming a 12-fight win streak[1]. Her lone loss during her historic reign came against Julianna Peña, who defeated Nunes via second-round submission to claim the title in 2023[1].
However, Nunes regained her title with a unanimous decision victory in their rematch the following year[1]. Peña was eager for a trilogy fight but infamously booed Nunes as she retired back in 2023[1].
Peña's wish for another showdown with her nemesis could soon become a reality. She faces Kayla Harrison, an Olympic gold medalist and former Professional Fighters League champion, on Saturday in New Jersey[1].
If Harrison prevails, she aims to become the first woman to win titles with both organizations[1]. Harrison's due diligence has been apparent, as she secured a stoppage win against Holly Holm and a unanimous decision victory over Ketlen Vieira to earn her title shot[1].
Although Harrison has encountered issues with making weight, fans were pleasantly surprised as she appeared revitalized during the ceremonial weigh-ins after seemingly looking depleted on the scales[1].
As for Sean O'Malley, he will defend his bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 316[5]. Regardless of the outcomes, viewers can expect a thrilling night of combat!
Here's the full UFC 316 Card:
Main Card
- Merab Dvalishvili (c) vs. Sean O'Malley - Bantamweight Title
- Kayla Harrison (c) vs. Julianna Peña - Women's Bantamweight Title [contender, if Harrison wins]
- Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer - Middleweight
- Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix - Bantamweight
- Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland - Welterweight
Prelims
- Bruno Silva vs. Joshua Van - Flyweight
- Johnny Walker vs. Azamat Murzakanov - Light Heavyweight
- Serghei Spivac vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta - Heavyweight
- Khaos Williams vs. Andreas Gustafsson - Welterweight
- Ariane da Silva vs. Wang Cong - Flyweight
- Jeka Saragih vs. Joo Sang Yoo - Featherweight
- Quillan Salkilld vs. Yanal Ashmouz - Lightweight
- MarQuel Mederos vs. Mark Choinski - Lightweight
[1] https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/35794360/amanda-nunes-eyeing-ufc-316-return-challenge-winner-julianna-pena-kayla-harrison[2] https://www.mmamania.com/2025/6/12/23056844/amanda-nunes-ufc-316-return-kayla-harrison-julianna-pena-mma[3] https://ufc.com/news/amanda-nunes-plans-to-return-to-ufc-and-challenge-the-winner-of-the-ufc-316-co-main-event[4] https://www.mmaindemand.com/2025/06/12/amanda-nunes-confirms-she-will-face-kayla-harrison-or-julianna-pena/[5] https://www.mmamania.com/2025/6/12/23057147/merab-dvalishvili-vs-sean-omalley-unchanged-as-ufc-316-fights-official-main-event
- In the sports realm of mixed-martial-arts, Amanda Nunes, a UFC Hall of Famer, is set to make her long-awaited return, aiming to challenge the winner of the UFC 316 co-main event for the women's bantamweight title.
- If Amanda Nunes successfully returns to the UFC roster, her upcoming fights could potentially pit her against opponents from UFC 316, including the newly crowned champion from the women's bantamweight division.
