Kayla Harrison Eyes Amanda Nunes Fight After ⁤Retirement Thoughts

‍ Updated June 12, ⁣2025

newly crowned UFC women’s bantamweight champion⁢ Kayla Harrison admitted ‍she briefly considered retirement following her grueling weight cut ahead of UFC 316. The two-time Olympic⁤ gold medalist in judo and former PFL ⁢champion defeated​ Julianna Peña to claim⁤ the title.

Harrison, previously a lightweight champion in PFL, endured a strict 15-week ⁢diet to meet the 135-pound championship ⁢weight.​ Her training regimen included daily six-mile workouts, increasing to eight miles on Sundays,⁣ incorporating‌ running, walking, swimming,⁣ and biking.

Despite the ​victory, ‍the extreme weight cut took a toll. harrison⁤ described feeling like “skin and bones” before⁤ the fight, leading her to contemplate⁣ ending​ her MMA career.

Though, ⁤harrison is⁤ now considering ‌a⁢ high-profile fight⁣ against Amanda Nunes,⁢ potentially at featherweight. The two fighters, former⁣ teammates, faced off in the Octagon ​after UFC ​316, fueling​ speculation about a future matchup.

Nunes has competed at both 135 and 145 ⁢pounds during her UFC career. ⁢Harrison, who fought⁤ at 155 ⁣pounds in ‍PFL and once at 145 pounds in 2020,‍ expressed ⁣enthusiasm for a potential featherweight bout.

“I’m not⁤ gonna lie to you. Friday morning, I thought about retiring on ⁤Saturday night,” Harrison ⁢told Luke Thomas.

“It takes a piece of yoru ⁤soul,” Harrison said of her cut to‌ bantamweight.

What’s next

Negotiations⁣ for a potential Kayla ⁤Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes fight are expected ‍to begin soon,⁢ with ‌the possibility ⁢of the bout ⁤headlining a​ major UFC event in late ⁣2025 or‍ early 2026. The fight‍ could be one ‍of the ⁣biggest ⁤in women’s MMA history.