Former UFC Champion Announces Return from Retirement: Prepared for Action!
Following the success of UFC 314, UFC President Dana White expressed his delight, with the event generating a reported $11.5 million in ticket sales at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The excitement may have been fueled not only by the financial success but also the return of a legendary figure in the UFC.
Former UFC women's featherweight and bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, who was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame, announced her return to the Octagon. In her statement, she emphasized her deep connection to the UFC, stating, "The UFC is my home. That's my cage. I am the Lioness. I’m back and ready to fight."
Nunes' comeback fight will pit her against the winner of the UFC 316 bantamweight title bout between Julianna Peña and Kayla Harrison. Nunes seems to favor a victory by Harrison, as she expressed, "Kayla Harrison motivated me a lot. When she joined the UFC, it was a big deal. She always talked about me in interviews. I thought, 'I don't have any injuries, I’m good, I’m still training, and I’m healthy.' So, why not? It's a great challenge. My whole career has been about facing challenges. I love that feeling—the challenge, the threat. Kayla brings a challenge to this division, and I like being part of that."
It is significant to note that Nunes will be 37 when she competes for the title, with her birthday next month. However, her two main opponents, Julianna Peña and Kayla Harrison, are not much younger, aged 36 and 35 respectively. The time Nunes spent away from fighting might prove beneficial, as she has had the opportunity to rest and rejuvenate before her return.
Julianna Peña and Nunes have a history, with Peña having defeated Nunes by submission in the second round at UFC 257 in December 2021 to claim the title. In their rematch at UFC 270 in July 2022, Nunes reclaimed the title with a unanimous decision. Peña has expressed her desire for a third fight with Nunes since losing the second match.
Following her retirement announcement in the ring after UFC 289, Peña voiced her opposition to Nunes' decision. However, now, Peña needs to win against Harrison to secure the highly anticipated third fight with Nunes.
The upcoming fights involving Nunes, Peña, and Harrison promise an exciting turn of events in the bantamweight division. The urgency is palpable, as none of the three fighters seem to have much time left in the sport.
Results from UFC 314 include victories for Alexander Volkanovski, Paddy Pimblett, Yair Rodríguez, Jean Silva, Dominick Reyes, Dan Ige, Virna Jandiroba, Chase Hooper, Julian Erosa, Michał Oleksiejczuk, Sumudaerji, Marco Tulio, Nora Cornolle, and Hailey Cowan.
Published: 17th April 2025
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The upcoming bantamweight fights involving Amanda Nunes, Julianna Peña, and Kayla Harrison are generating excitement not just for their potential financial gains, but also for the health of the UFC as these experienced athletes face off. Nunes, who has a deep connection to the UFC and is set to compete at 37, appears to favor a victory by Harrison, citing her as a source of motivation and a formidable challenge in the division.
These fights promise a mixed-martial-arts spectacle as the three fighters push their physical limits in a bid to secure their place in the sport, with the urgency being particularly palpable in Julianna Peña's case, as she needs to win against Harrison to secure a highly anticipated third fight with Nunes.
