Amanda Nunes Ends Retirement, Sets Sights on UFC 316 Winner in High-Stakes Comeback

The UFC women’s bantamweight division is set for a seismic shift as two-division legend Amanda Nunes confirmed her return from retirement, eyeing a blockbuster fight against the winner of the June 7 title clash between Julianna Peña and Kayla Harrison at UFC 316. The announcement, teased during a charged press conference in Miami, has reignited excitement for a division long defined by Nunes’ dominance.

The Lioness Roars Again Nunes, 36, stunned the MMA world during a surprise appearance at Friday’s UFC 316 press event, where UFC CEO Dana White pointed to her in the crowd after declaring, “She just said yes” to a comeback. The former featherweight and bantamweight champion—who retired in June 2023 after defending her title against Irene Aldana—nodded emphatically, signaling her intent to reclaim the throne.

“I’m a fighter, you know? I’m a lioness. I cannot be away from this game,” Nunes said earlier in the week after her UFC Hall of Fame induction was announced, tears streaming down her face. Her return sets up a legacy-defining opportunity: to settle unfinished business with Peña or face Olympic judoka Harrison in a clash of eras.

Peña vs. Harrison: A Collision Course The current champion, Julianna Peña (-5 UFC), enters her first title defense of her second reign against undefeated phenom Kayla Harrison (18-1 MMA), a two-time Olympic gold medalist making her bantamweight debut. The pair’s first faceoff turned volcanic, with Peña mocking Harrison’s weight cut to 135 pounds: “You’re gonna look like a skeleton, and I’m gonna send you back to the PFL where you belong!”.

Harrison, a former PFL champion, fired back: “You’re a placeholder. That belt’s mine, and then I’ll take out Amanda too”. The animosity underscores the stakes—the winner not only claims gold but secures a marquee fight with Nunes, who holds a 1-1 record against Peña and has never faced Harrison.

Why This Matters Nunes’ return injects star power into a division she ruled for nearly a decade, defeating icons like Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, and Valentina Shevchenko. A fight with Harrison—a fellow judo specialist and training partner-turned-rival—represents a fresh superfight, while a trilogy bout with Peña could settle their bitter rivalry.

What’s Next UFC 316’s co-main event on June 7 in Newark, New Jersey, now carries dual stakes: championship glory and the right to face MMA’s GOAT. For Nunes, the comeback marks a chance to cement her legacy further. As she declared: “I miss [fighting] so much. I tried coaching, but I’m ready to get back”.

The women’s bantamweight division, once synonymous with Nunes’ reign, now braces for a new chapter—one where history and hunger collide.