Amanda Nunes Announces UFC Comeback Plans Amid Bantamweight Title Rivalry

Amanda Nunes, the former two-division UFC women's bantamweight champion, has announced her return to the Octagon with plans to recapture the bantamweight title and defend it for as long as she can compete at a high level. Her comeback follows the recent UFC 316 event where Kayla Harrison won the women's bantamweight championship by submitting Julianna Pena, setting up a highly anticipated superfight between Nunes and Harrison later in the year. Nunes' return is seen as a vital boost for the UFC amid ongoing negotiations for media rights, as the organization faces challenges with its pay-per-view pricing model. She emphasized that her return is not a one-time attempt but a long-term commitment to competing. The announcement has generated significant excitement and narrative potential within the women's bantamweight division, which has experienced a gap since Nunes' retirement. Nunes last fought at UFC 289 in June 2023, where she secured a unanimous decision victory, bringing her MMA record to 23 wins and 5 losses.