For a significant portion of her illustrious career, Amanda Nunes honed her skills under the guidance of coaches at American Top Team in Florida. However, she eventually made the decision to part ways with the renowned gym and instead establish her own private training studio, focusing exclusively on her personal preparation.
This transition proved beneficial. Nunes successfully rebounded from a loss, going on to thoroughly defeat Julianna Peña over five rounds to reclaim the UFC bantamweight championship. She maintained her dominant form with a clear victory against Irene Aldana in what was initially her final fight before retirement. Now, as Nunes prepares for a potential return to competition, with a highly anticipated matchup against Kayla Harrison looming, she has admitted that the prospect of facing Harrison was the direct catalyst for her decision to leave American Top Team in the first place.
“Yes, I did [leave because of Kayla Harrison],” Nunes stated during the UFC 316 post-fight show. “Because when she got there, she started training with my coach, Mike Brown, Anderson [Franca], everybody, and I knew this fight would happen one day.”
“If I was there now, that would be a problem. A huge problem for [American Top Team owner] Dan [Lambert]. She would have to move. Both training at the same gym, never would have happened.”
Such internal conflicts have occurred previously at American Top Team, and they have almost always resulted in one fighter departing the facility. This was the outcome when Tyron Woodley competed against Robbie Lawler, and the intense animosity between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal similarly led to their separation from the team.
Nunes revealed that from the very moment Harrison began publicly mentioning her name as a potential opponent, she felt it was inevitable that they would eventually need to put aside their team affiliation to settle their differences in the cage. That said, Nunes also clarified that despite spending several years training under the same roof, she disputes the notion that she and Harrison were particularly close or that they served as primary training partners for each other.
“Honestly, we felt it at the gym,” Nunes said. “As soon as she got the microphone, she used to talk about me. From that moment, we already started [feeling different], we always respected each other in the gym but we knew. The energy, we were never able to connect. We’re training here and there, we never was training partners in the gym. Let’s be honest. We were never training partners.”
“Here and there we were training, also I was completely out of shape. Every time I’d come back to the gym, somehow we’re training and I’m like damn, I’m going to train with Kayla when I’m completely out of shape? That’s not fair. Now we’re going to see each other when I’m at full time in camp, 100 percent strong ‘The Lioness’ and she’s going to know exactly who I am inside the cage.”
With her return now confirmed and Harrison holding a championship title after a dominant victory over Julianna Pena at UFC 316, Nunes expressed enthusiasm for the challenge that awaits her.
Nunes is required to re-enter the UFC`s anti-doping program, which necessitates a six-month period of drug testing before a retired fighter can compete again. Despite this requirement, she anticipates the highly anticipated clash against Harrison taking place before the end of 2025.
“Honestly, I’m going to really get in camp full time, I was training here in there but always in shape,” Nunes commented. “Honestly, November/December, I might be ready to go.”
Looking ahead, Nunes assured that her comeback is not merely to face Harrison before stepping away from the sport once more.
Instead, Nunes intends to reclaim her championship belt and then challenge the top contenders in the 135-pound division. She feels refreshed, renewed, and fully prepared to take back everything she previously achieved.
“Look, my body’s good, I don’t have an injuries,” Nunes stated. “My brain is amazing. My soul is ready for everything. I’m going get the belt, defend as long as possible. I’m ready to do it all over again. You guys never see that before. I’m going to be the first one. I’m going to do it all over again. I’m going to become a new champion and then defend the belt and we’re going to keep going. Honestly, I’m pumped for this.”
