It appears that the possibility of Amanda Nunes returning to the world of mixed martial arts is not entirely ruled out.
The former two-division UFC champion, who recently retired, did not dismiss the idea of a comeback when asked about a potential return to the octagon. Nunes was in attendance to witness Raquel Pennington reclaim the title she vacated last June by defeating Mayra Bueno Silva in the co-main event of UFC 297.
Watching the women’s bantamweight title fight stirred up mixed emotions for Nunes and reignited her passion for the sport. Will this be enough to entice her to make a comeback? Nunes remains uncertain.
“I felt nervous. I don’t know why, but I was very nervous,” Nunes revealed in an interview with ESPN. “It was a mix of feelings – happiness and sadness. But when I saw ‘Rocky’ with the belt, I was okay. I wasn’t upset or anything like that. I believe I made the right decision to retire, take some time to rest, and focus on taking care of our babies. I can’t leave Nina to take care of them alone. I also want to enjoy life more. Throughout my entire life, I’ve always been focused on fighting, and I never really got to enjoy my 20s. They flew by so quickly. Now I’m 35, and I can finally go back to Brazil, spend time with my friends and family, and savor the moments.”
She continued, “We’ll see what the future holds. I’m still young and have plenty of energy. You never know. There are many things I need to figure out personally. We’ll see how things unfold.”
Reporter Megan Olivi pressed Nunes further, inquiring about her potential return to the octagon. Despite enjoying her retired life, Nunes admitted that a part of her misses fighting.
“I’m not sure. You never know – I’m a fighter,” Nunes responded. “This is my passion, my job, and I love it so much. I’m enjoying my time away from the gym, experiencing a normal life, and allowing myself to be a little lazy. It’s challenging for a fighter to be lazy. But, you know, I’m still healthy, strong, and mentally sharp. I have the mindset of a champion. I still feel like a champion, so we’ll see what the future holds.”
It remains to be seen if Amanda Nunes will ultimately make a comeback to the UFC. However, her words suggest that the fire within her still burns, and fans will eagerly await any news regarding her potential return to the octagon.