​Amanda
Nunes says burnout drove her to retire in 2023. Time away
renewed her interest in fighting, and the chance to take on
Kayla
Harrison gave her a reason to return.
The former two-division
Ultimate Fighting Championship champion will challenge Harrison
for the bantamweight title at UFC
334. Speaking to UFC News, Nunes said years of defending titles
in two weight classes without an extended break had worn her
down.Amanda Nunes discusses burnout, her daughters and the Kayla
Harrison challenge ahead of her UFC comeback
“I literally was on the road without stopping for so long. Defend
the belt, you know, one division, the other, and I never stopped. I
kind of burned out a little bit,” Nunes said.
Nunes said she eventually missed competing. She also wanted her
younger daughter to see a part of her life that her older daughter
had already experienced.
“At one point in life, when I got the break that I needed,
everything got boring. I got bored at home,” Nunes said. “My
younger one didn’t have the opportunity to see everything about my
life. I feel like she deserved it too.”
The matchup with Harrison was another draw.
“Kayla is a very good opponent, tough opponent. It’s exactly how I
like it. I like a challenge,” she added.”I needed to reset. I needed a
clear mind.” Amanda
Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) reflects on her time away from competing
and what prompted her to return to face Kayla
Harrison at #Polymarket #UFC334 Fight by Fight Preview ➡️
https://t.co/qUSwbgJOoM https://t.co/madzjQVhtr— UFC News
(@UFCNews)
November 10, 2026