Amanda Nunes isn't treating her career comeback as a farewell tour. The 38-year-old former two-division champion will face Kayla Harrison for the women's bantamweight title at UFC 334 on November 14th at Madison Square Garden, but she's already looking past that match.
Speaking on Deep Waters, the MMA fighter made it clear that a win in New York wouldn't mean walking away again.
"You've got to defend the belt," she said. "And then we're going to see."
It's a sharp pivot from her exit announcement after beating Irene Aldana by unanimous decision at UFC 289 in June 2023. She gave up the bantamweight belt after that fight, stepping away from the sport for more than three years.
Why Did Amanda Nunes Retire from UFC?
Still, Nunes admits the break was necessary. She described feeling burned out before her exit, saying she "kind of needed" time away from the constant pressure of title defenses. Now, though, she sounds re-energized. "I would have come back anyways," she told Deep Waters. "I enjoy more to be there."
The matchup at Madison Square Garden was initially delayed after Harrison underwent neck surgery earlier this year, pushing it from a planned January slot at UFC 324 to November's co-main event behind Ciryl Gane vs Josh Hokit.
Should Nunes win, it sounds like she'll be looking for even more action in the octagon.
