Amanda Nunes, widely regarded as the greatest female fighter in UFC history, has been retired for two years since her last bout at UFC 289 in June 2023. After successfully defending her two UFC titles in that event, she stepped away from the sport while holding both championships. Now inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, Nunes is expected to return to face the newly crowned bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison.

Harrison, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist in judo and former teammate of Nunes at American Top Team, publicly challenged Nunes following her victory over Julianna Peña at UFC 316. The match between these two is being hailed as a potential landmark fight for women’s mixed martial arts. However, Nunes faces a delay of approximately six months before she can compete again due to not being in the drug testing pool, adding uncertainty around the timing of this anticipated super-fight.

Rampage Jackson recommends a preparatory fight for Nunes before Harrison showdown

With nearly three years out of competition by the time Nunes returns, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson advises that she should consider a tune-up fight to regain her competitive edge before facing Harrison. Given Harrison’s elite judo credentials and current form, Jackson believes a warm-up bout would better prepare “The Lioness” for such a high-stakes challenge.

I would like to see Nunes do like a warm-up fight,

Jackson stated on The Jaxxon Podcast.

But, I know UFC don’t believe in warm-up fights.

In contrast, former UFC champion TJ Dillashaw argued that Nunes’ status as the greatest woman fighter means she may not require an extra bout before confronting Harrison.

She’s the greatest woman fighter of all time though,

Dillashaw said.

Still, Jackson emphasized Nunes’ humanity despite her legendary skill level.

Still, she’s human, Jackson remarked, highlighting the potential value of a preparatory fight. Although an interim fight for Nunes seems unlikely, it remains a sensible suggestion given her lengthy hiatus from active competition.

Questioning Kayla Harrison’s claim as undisputed bantamweight champion

Shortly after Kayla Harrison was recognized as the UFC women’s bantamweight champion, some within the MMA community expressed doubts about her undisputed status, especially with Nunes planning a comeback. Former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold publicly called Harrison an “interim champion,” insisting that Nunes remains the legitimate titleholder until she officially relinquishes her belts.

Nunes has walked away as champ and she returns as champ,

Rockhold commented.

He added,

She really is the champ. She still is the champ.

Regarding Harrison’s position, Rockhold said,

This is the interim champ,

and further clarified,

This is an interim championship…

This suggests that the official bantamweight title’s undisputed status may remain unsettled until Nunes and Harrison meet in the Octagon.

Anticipation builds around one of women’s MMA’s biggest fights

The matchup between Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison is shaping up to be one of the most significant in women’s mixed martial arts history, as it pits a celebrated multi-division UFC legend against an undefeated judo Olympic gold medalist turned bantamweight champion. The delay in Nunes’ return and the debate over whether she should face a lesser opponent first have sparked conversation on how best to preserve her legendary status while ensuring competitive readiness.

As the fight date approaches, fans and experts alike are watching closely to see not only when the bout will happen but also how this encounter will impact the future landscape of the UFC women’s bantamweight division. The outcome could solidify the hierarchy in the division and influence legacy discussions for both fighters involved.