The recently-retired two-division UFC world champion spoke about being surprised by having a burning desire to rest and recover, after accruing damage aplenty across her body given the gruelling training camps and various fights over the years. Yet the Lioness didn’t close the door on a return, even aged 35…
Nunes on a deserved break – but leaves the door open
- “I cannot kick as much anymore, my legs have nerve damage from over the years – things are starting to get harder for me – my shoulders, knees need rest. Even my teeth need work after getting hit in the mouth so many times, I don’t see myself back in the cage anytime soon. I’m looking forward to a break, my body needs this,” Nunes lists her painful existing injuries
- 35-year-old admits idea of retirement ‘slowly crept up’ on her during Irene Aldana fight week, partly from fatigue of countless interviews asking when she was thinking of hanging up the gloves – confirms she would’ve departed, whether Aldana or original Julianna Pena trilogy
- “I need to take care of my body, give it a break… we’ll see what happens in the future,” she told Sports Illustrated, as 135lb division remains unclear at the top and women’s featherweight – lacking depth – now in peril
Much like Henry Cejudo and Khabib Nurmagomedov within a five-month span during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Amanda Nunes was still performing at the peak of her powers – one Julianna Pena-shaped shock defeat aside.
So while retirement was an inevitability, it still was jarring to hear the Brazilian announce it after a one-sided beatdown of Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June.
When you read the above quotes, discussing her series of existing injuries and lingering problems, it becomes easier to understand.
Atop the women’s divisions – besides #3 ranked flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield – is packed full of older, experienced veterans similarly nearer Nunes in retirement, though you’re a long time retired as a professional in any discipline.
Perhaps that’s why Nunes stopped short of ruling out a return, something former bantamweight champion Miesha Tate did in the summer of 2021.
An undisclosed injury saw Mayra Bueno Silva indirectly benefit from a Holly Holm scalp last month, while others in a similar age-range have eyed an opportunity to capture gold now the long-reigning champion has relinquished her throne.
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A fellow former champion in Germaine de Randamie, for example, is targeting her Octagon return after a three-year layoff before this summer ends in late September.
The 38-year-old gave birth to her first child, Isaiah, back in March and has been training behind-the-scenes before and increasingly during the months after her son was welcomed into the world. Given the landscape, why wouldn’t she?
GdR was #2 ranked at 135lbs before being removed for inactivity, and holds wins over Holm (Feb. 2017), Raquel Pennington (Nov. 2018) and most recently submitted now-former champion Julianna Pena in her last appearance in October 2020.
For what it’s worth, the competitor in Nunes won’t allow her to fully shut the door on something she’s been fully engrossed in for more than two full decades.
Achieving a fairytale comeback better than the one she currently has will only get harder, the older she gets, so it’d be wise not to expect any spectacular future return.
Picture source: Getty Images
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