Video: Amanda Nunes Reacts to Kayla Harrison's Title Claim After Debut Win at UFC 300
April 14, 2024
Kayla Harrison scored a second-round submission victory over Holly Holm in her UFC debut on Saturday at UFC 300, and she made clear after the match that she wants a title shot by the end of the year:
It appears, though, that retired ex-UFC bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes might have her eyes set on a fight with Harrison based on this video she put out post-match:
The top of the video read "chama" (let's go!) with a flame and also a lioness symbol, representing Nunes of course.
Nunes retired in 2023. She dealt with nerve damage in both of her legs, to the point where she's appeared in post-fight news conferences on crutches.
Nunes also left having done all she could in the sport. Not only is she one of just four UFC fighters to ever hold two title belts simultaneously, but her 11 UFC wins rank first among female mixed martial artists.
Her resume of great wins speaks for itself, although Harrison presents a new challenge that just might present enough intrigue for her to return.
Harrison is a well-accomplished fighter in her own right. For starters, she's a sixth dan black belt in judo who won Olympic gold medals in the 78-kg division in 2012 and 2016 and the 2010 World Championship as well.
Harrison entered the Professional Fighters League in 2018, when she continued her dominance and won the 2019 and 2021 PFL Women's Lightweight Tournaments. Her only loss was to Larissa Pacheco in the 2022 final via unanimous decision.
After the win over Holm, Harrison now sports a 17-1 professional record. She also now has a signature victory already in the UFC over a former champion in Holm, who was ranked No. 5 on the bantamweight list going into the evening.
Raquel Pennington is the current champion, having won the vacant bantamweight belt against Mayra Bueno Silva in January. Pennington wants No. 1 contender Julianna Peña next.
Harrison mentioned both by name in her post-match talk with Joe Rogan. If she gets the chance at the future champ and takes advantage of that opportunity, then Nunes could be lying in wait in 2025. That would undoubtedly be a huge draw, as MMA journalist Ariel Helwani noted.
For now, Harrison's next fight could very well be against the future bantamweight champion, but it's not impossible to see her facing Nunes in a blockbuster down the road.
