The challenge that brought Nunes out of retirementPaul Battison - BBC
Amanda Nunes is one of four simultaneous two-division champions in UFC history
It was always going to take a special challenge to bring Amanda Nunes out of retirement.
The Brazilian left the UFC in 2023 as the most successful women's mixed martial artist of all time, and with a strong claim to be the greatest ever, regardless of gender.
A former featherweight and bantamweight champion, Nunes is the only woman to hold UFC titles in two weight classes simultaneously, and the only fighter, male or female, to successfully defend both belts.
During Nunes' remarkable run, she beat some of the greatest names in MMA history, such as Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg and Valentina Shevchenko.
After Nunes was eventually dethroned by Julianna Pena in one of the biggest upsets of all time, she then regained her title in emphatic fashion.
Nunes was so dominant, she ran out of challengers and left the sport feeling like she had completed MMA.
That was until Kayla Harrison came along.
"When Kayla signed with the UFC and I saw the division with some new girls it excited me," said Nunes.
"Because I cleaned both divisions and didn't have anything to do any more. That was when I was sure I wanted to do this again."
American Harrison is a two-time Olympic gold medallist in judo who became a two-time PFL lightweight world champion after transitioning to MMA.
After joining the UFC in 2024, Harrison won the bantamweight title in only her third fight with the promotion.
The contest between 36-year-old Harrison and 38-year-old Nunes is being described by pundits as one of the biggest women's fights in UFC history.
The pair are friends and former team-mates at American Top Team Gym, before Nunes left in 2022.
They were originally set to fight in January, but the fight got postponed after Harrison required neck and spinal surgery.
They will instead compete at UFC 334 at New York's Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
Nunes beams with excitement at the prospect of returning to the octagon to fight Harrison, and she has lost none of her trademark confidence during her three years away from the sport.
"I'm not here today as a challenger, I'm here today as a double champion," said Nunes.
"I needed a break and did it at the right time for my mind, body and soul.
"There's no hate. It's about the challenge Kayla brings and how great this will be for women's MMA. We want to prove who the best girl is in the cage."
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Nunes wants to put women back in spotlight
Nunes has won 23 of her 28 fights since her debut in 2008 during a glittering career, with 13 of those victories coming via knockout.
She holds multiple records, including 11 wins in title fights, which is the most for a woman in UFC history alongside Shevchenko.
Such is Nunes' star power, she has headlined multiple large events during her career, including the landmark UFC 200 show in 2016, where she beat Miesha Tate.
She also headlined when she regained the belt off Pena at UFC 277, and in her last bout against Irene Aldana.
Since then however, only one of 43 UFC numbered events have been headlined by women, which was Natalia Silva's win over Wang Cong at UFC 332 in October.
Nunes says part of her return is fuelled by wanting to help women's MMA return to the spotlight.
"I got upset when I left because I wanted to see the division grow. Back in the day, we put in so much work to this division," said Nunes.
"This is my work here, I want to make women's MMA great, I want the UFC proud of us, so when I saw it slowing down I was a little sad and I got the itch. I want to jump back in and bring it back again."
Nunes has been able to spend more time with her partner Nina and her two daughters during her break from the sport, but admits she has "missed being a fighter".
At the age of 38, it remains to be seen if Nunes' powers have waned, but she says she is planning to fight on past the Harrison match "until my body tells me".
Now, with a new challenge in front of her, Nunes gets the chance to add another chapter to her remarkable story.
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Source: Sports
