“Maybe at the White House” – Amanda Nunes Discusses Rebooking Kayla Harrison Fight

The one that got away… for now. At UFC 324, we were scheduled to get one of, if not the biggest fights in women’s MMA history between the bantamweight champion, Kayla Harrison and the returning GOAT, Amanda Nunes.

10 days out from the first event on Paramount+, Harrison suffered an injury and had to withdraw from the bout. Harrison suffered herniated discs in her neck, which required surgery, with the fight set to be rescheduled later this year.

Amanda Nunes hopes that the scheduled White House card on June 14th will be the event in which the bout will go ahead, although she is aware that it all rests on Harrison’s fitness.

Amanda Nunes Hopefully on June 14th Date with Kayla Harrison

Nunes provides an update

Speaking to UFC Brasil, Amanda Nunes stated that she believes that Harrison must provide the UFC with an update on her health within the next six months. If by that time she still isn’t fit to fight, the likelihood is that she will be stripped of her title and Nunes will compete against someone else for the vacant belt.

We’ll be hoping that isn’t the case, and Harrison will be fit and get back to full health. Nunes is also hopeful of this happening, saying, “I saw that she’s already back at the gym and that makes me really happy. I wish her all the best in her recovery and everything because of course I need her. How could I wish her bad? I want her to recover as fast as possible, and I’ll be right here.“

She went on to note, “Everything depends on her now for us to make this fight happen, maybe at the White House. I think that would be perfect. And I’ll be ready.”

The June date gives Harrison roughly two months to get back in shape before entering an eight-week camp. We know that much of Harrison’s training camps focus on her making the bantamweight limit of 135lbs, something she has never looked comfortable doing. With that being said, Harrison is the ultimate professional and has never missed weight in her career.

“I’m Back”

If fans believed it to be one and done for Nunes, she suggests that this isn’t the case. Discussing the cancelled bout with Harrison, The Lionness said:

“My body, I’ve never been able to get into this kind of shape before. I’m 37 years old and I’m extremely mature, both outside and inside the cage. I’ve learned a lot, and I’m still discovering myself as an athlete, discovering things I had never discovered before. I’m still in a huge process of evolution, and I’m going to evolve even more. I still have a lot to bring back to MMA and to keep this division moving. I want to get my belt back, and I’ll defend it too. I’m back.”

In what is a fairly shallow division, the addition of Amanda Nunes back into the mix is a welcome sight.