Harrison Vows To Send Nunes Into Retirement

UFC Bantamweight Champion Kayla Harrison intends to make Amanda Nunes pay in their UFC 324 clash on January 24, vowing to send her into retirement.

Kayla has chance to prove herself as the best female fighter on the planet. After making her promotional debut at UFC 300 in 2024, the two-time Olympic gold medalist captured the 135-pound belt in June 2025 by submitting Julianna Peña. Now, she intends to make Nunes regret her decision to step back into the Octagon.

The rivalry between the two started during their time at the American Top Team, where they were once teammates and training partners. Nunes’ decision to leave the gym to establish her own training space only made Harrison stronger. To prepare for Harrison’s grappling skills, though, Nunes has brought in Larissa Pacheco—the only woman to have ever defeated Harrison—to assist in her training camp.

Having competed at 172 pounds in judo and 155 pounds in the PFL, the cut to the bantamweight limit is a grueling test. Harrison has been candid about the physical toll of making 135 pounds, even admitting to severe medical concerns during previous camps. However, she is ready for whatever Nunes brings. 

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“No, I don’t think she’s going to come back after what I do to her on Jan. 24. I would welcome (a rematch), but I’m going to send her back to retirement. … There’s no bad blood for me. I know ATT really wants this one, so I’m going to go out there and do us all proud. I’m really excited because I feel like this fight is a fight we’ve all been speculating and talking about for a long time.

“I do believe Amanda was the greatest female fighter on the planet. I believe I’m the best in the world, and if you want to be the best in the world, you’ve got to go beat whoever the best in the world is right now. I’m excited for it. It’s just all coming together perfectly. “It’s not getting easier. That’s for sure. It’s getting harder. But we can do hard things. Every time I prepare for a fight, every time I go through this process, every time I face another big challenge, it just molds me into a more evolved version of myself. It’s all part of the journey and I’m enjoying every part of it,” Harrison said