Very like how she dominated the Olympics en route to 2 gold medals, Kayla Harrison has lengthy desired to be thought of the very best on this planet relating to her preventing profession.
Harrison doesn’t need to simply win championships, she need to retire as the best fighter within the historical past of the game, and he or she is aware of there are nonetheless lots of obstacles left to hurdle earlier than she will earn that distinction. Maybe the quickest path to her purpose can be profitable a UFC title after which welcoming former champion Amanda Nunes again to the competitors after “The Lioness” teased a possible return from retirement. Nunes known as it a profession in 2023, retiring with UFC bantamweight and featherweight titles nonetheless on her shoulders.
Whereas they have been as soon as teammates below the identical coaches at American Prime Staff in Florida, Harrison is aware of beating Nunes would add an enormous accolade to her document and it’s a problem she welcomes.
“Selfishly, I hope that she does [return],” Harrison informed MMA Preventing. “I’ve no beef with Amanda apart from her making an attempt to throw American Prime Staff below the bus. Don’t f*ck with my homies.
“However hear if she’s joyful and residing her dream, that’s nice however selfishly, I might love for her to come back again so I can put all of the noise to relaxation.”
In her remaining two fights within the UFC, Nunes avenged a previous loss to Julianna Peña to reclaim her bantamweight title after which ran roughshod over Irene Aldana in what was in the end Nunes’ remaining look with the promotion.
The Peña rematch got here seven months after Nunes suffered a stunning upset loss to the “Venezuelan Vixen.” Nunes surrendered her UFC title after being submitted by way of rear-naked choke within the second spherical. That was the primary time Nunes had confronted defeat in six years. Issues went a lot otherwise within the second struggle, with Nunes brutally punishing Peña for 5 rounds earlier than profitable a lopsided choice, with one decide giving Nunes a 50-43 scorecard.
In the long term, Harrison hopes she will get the prospect to beat each of them however she acknowledges that as a lot as Peña deserves credit score for her win, she nonetheless considers Nunes the higher fighter and the larger addition to her resume.
“I’m by no means going to take that win away from Julianna,” Harrison stated. “It was her night time. Kudos to her. Lightning hardly ever strikes the identical place twice. I believe that Amanda is the higher fighter and who is aware of what occurred. I’m excited to see how Julianna appears on this struggle [against Raquel Pennington] — if she makes it to the struggle.”
Whereas Harrison has lofty plans for her future, none of that occurs if she slips up in her subsequent struggle in opposition to Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307. That’s why each dialog concerning the title, Nunes, or anyone else finally ends up with Harrison as soon as once more citing Vieira’s title as the one one which issues proper now.
“We’ll see what occurs,” Harrison stated. “I’m targeted on Ketlen Vieira, Oct. 5, UFC 307, 135 kilos, one step nearer to the purpose.
“One step at a time. Ketlen first, then the title after which Amanda if she needs some.”
