Arguably the best feminine fighter to ever make a fist, Amanda Nunes, retired from preventing in June 2022 after efficiently defending her bantamweight championship at UFC 289. “The Lioness” retreated to household life however her aggressive spirit remained.
It did not take lengthy earlier than Nunes started having ideas of getting again in there. After former teammate Kayla Harrison rose by means of the 135-pound division, Nunes introduced that she’d be popping out of retirement.
On Jan. 24, within the UFC 324 co-main occasion at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas, the previous two-time titleholder and the present champion will collide. The previous teammates and occasional coaching companions at America Prime Group discover themselves as octagon opponents. It is a future Nunes noticed early on and led to her departing the famed gymnasium.
“When she acquired there (at American Prime Group), each time that I went to the gymnasium coaching, if she was there, or I used to be there, we was partnered up and all this stuff but it surely was by no means like a factor,” Nunes informed Paramount UFC Crew.
“I really feel like when she began actually speaking about. me, calling me out, and concurrently being within the gymnasium and attempting to be my coaching accomplice. I began to get like slightly bit much more distant from right here as a result of that is the problem that I like. So, you are right here subsequent to me. That is not how I love to do issues,” stated Nunes.
“Should you’re calling me out, if you wish to struggle me, you are not imagined to be right here coaching with my coach on the identical mat in the identical gymnasium. If I will face you, you are going to be out of right here.”
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Nunes determined to depart the gymnasium and knew she and Harrison would finally stand throughout the cage from one another.
“On the time she wasn’t even within the UFC but, however I knew it is doable. I knew immediately when she began calling me out after which speak about I knew as a result of there’s not lots of people on the market, , she’s an athlete, she’s a superb fighter, and there is not lots of people that may sustain along with her. I knew that she would make her approach to the UFC,” Nunes stated.
At UFC 324, a lot of Nunes’ former coaches and teammates with be in Harrison’s nook and cheering for the champion. As soon as her residence, Nunes sees ATT as her opponent too heading into the primary UFC occasion of the yr.
“The attachment that I used to have with the gymnasium, with the coach, those who’s at all times round me, I haven’t got anymore. They’re all towards me, so I take a look at them as my opponent too,” stated Nunes.
