`The Lioness` is preparing for a return that could inject excitement into the women`s bantamweight division.
After retiring in 2023, Amanda Nunes appeared to confirm her comeback at a recent UFC 316 press conference when she was shown on screen.
The 135-pound title will be on the line on June 7 in Newark as current champion Julianna Pena faces Kayla Harrison, another fighter with whom Nunes has a history.
Nunes was announced for this year`s Hall of Fame a few days later at UFC 314 in Miami, solidifying the Brazilian`s legacy in the sport.
Despite the buzz around the former two-division champion returning after her Hall of Fame induction, a former UFC star is puzzled by the excitement.
Chael Sonnen Unsure Why Fans Care About Amanda Nunes Returning
Leading up to Amanda Nunes` retirement, some felt her fights lacked excitement for fans.
This was partly due to her dominance; as champion, she was so far ahead of her rivals after defeating fighters like Valentina Shevchenko and Cris Cyborg.
Chael Sonnen mentioned this in a recent YouTube video about Nunes and Kayla Harrison, suggesting that a video featuring these two wouldn`t attract many views.
Sonnen, a Hall of Famer himself for his first fight with Anderson Silva, stated he doesn`t get why fans are now excited for Nunes` return when they didn`t seem to care when she was actively competing.
Many fans might argue that her lack of competition and the prospect of Harrison beating Julianna Pena at UFC 316 could create a compelling challenge for `The Lioness` – a new dominant force emerging since Nunes` departure.
However, Sonnen believes people are just being polite in pretending to be excited for what would be a significant moment – the return of an all-time great.
“This is very polite. It`s very polite to pretend that you want Amanda Nunes to come back, it`s very polite, but I`m just not really sure why you`re doing it. You didn`t get excited when she was here the first time. You didn`t come out, you didn`t buy a T-shirt, you wouldn`t watch the show, you wouldn`t buy the pay-per-view, and now you`re pretending that you want her to come back.”
Sonnen clarified that his comments weren`t directed at Nunes personally, but rather at his confusion about the shift in fan interest.
“She`s the greatest of all time. I`ve also met her, and she turns out she`s like a really, really nice human being in addition to that. It`s not a commentary on that. You don`t want to see her fight, and you never did, so I struggle with this newfound curiosity of will she come back.”
Chael Sonnen Thinks Amanda Nunes Hasn`t Improved Since Kayla Harrison Emerged
Kayla Harrison`s skills and achievements make her an intriguing opponent for Amanda Nunes, and there`s a history between them.
Nunes left American Top Team years ago, partly because of Harrison`s arrival, as she preferred to create her own team, feeling too close to potential rivals at ATT.
Chael Sonnen believes Nunes` form declined after leaving ATT, arguing that since Nunes first met Harrison, their career trajectories have diverged.
“From that day until right now, Amanda is not one teeny tiny millimeter better than she was that day. However good she was the day she reached out and said, `Hi I`m Amanda,` and that person said, `Hi my name is Kayla,` Amanda is not one technique, one stroke, one move, one combination, one bit better, and that isn`t true for Kayla.”
