Following her championship victory in the UFC, Kayla Harrison has received advice to retire at the peak of her career. The Olympic gold medalist in judo secured a submission win over Julianna Pena at UFC 316 on Saturday night. This achievement earned Kayla Harrison the bantamweight title and opened the door for a potential bout with Amanda Nunes.
The former training partners faced off in the Octagon after the fight to build anticipation for their highly awaited matchup. However, it has quickly become apparent that not everyone is eager to see Harrison`s next fight be against Amanda Nunes.
Demetrious Johnson Suggests Kayla Harrison Should Retire
Flyweight icon Demetrius Johnson watched UFC 316 from home. After the event, the fighter, widely considered one of the greatest ever, shared his thoughts on the proceedings. Surprisingly, `Mighty Mouse` advised Harrison to retire from the sport entirely and avoid a legacy-defining fight against Nunes.
“If I were Kayla Harrison, I would retire from the sport,” Johnson stated on his YouTube channel. “Don’t fight Amanda Nunes. Amanda is going to… We’ll discuss that in the analysis.”
Later in the same video, Johnson elaborated on why he believes Harrison should step away from MMA. He added, “Kayla Harrison is challenging Amanda Nunes, and I think that’s a very poor decision. Kayla Harrison is a world champion, but if you compare the list of opponents Amanda Nunes has faced with those Kayla Harrison has fought, there is absolutely no comparison… The calibre of fighters Amanda Nunes has fought completely overshadows everything Kayla Harrison has done throughout her entire career.”
“Amanda Nunes doesn’t need to come out of retirement. I believe the only factor that might entice her to return is likely how straightforward the fight might seem. It’s not a matchup I’m particularly excited about seeing. I would prefer to see Amanda Nunes remain retired, and perhaps Kayla Harrison could have one more fight and then retire as well.”
Amanda Nunes` Potential UFC Comeback Faces Delay
Amanda Nunes retired at the pinnacle of her career after defeating Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023. ‘The Lioness’ reportedly hopes to end her break from the sport by facing Harrison later this year. However, a significant obstacle exists for the potential Nunes vs. Harrison super fight that could push it back until 2026.
Nunes has not been included in the UFC’s drug testing program for the past two years. Consequently, she is required to complete a six-month period of random drug testing before being cleared to return to the Octagon. December would be the earliest possible timeframe for Nunes’ comeback, barring an unlikely exemption from the relevant authorities. Therefore, fight enthusiasts should temper their expectations about seeing the greatest female fighter of all time back in action too soon.
Percy Harlow