Kayla Harrison manager suggests Amanda Nunes retired to avoid fight

Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes won’t be out of the query simply but.

A bout between Harrison and the previous two-division champion has been mentioned for years, with Harrison dominating within the PFL earlier than just lately becoming a member of the UFC, and Nunes happening a legendary 14-1 run that noticed her seize UFC gold at 135 and 145 kilos. The truth that the 2 had educated collectively at American High Staff in Florida solely added to the intrigue.

However Nunes retired in June 2023 following a dominant resolution win over Irene Aldana at UFC 289, 10 months earlier than Harrison debuted at UFC 300 with a powerful submission of former champion Holly Holm. Harrison’s supervisor Ali Abdelaziz is now suggesting that Nunes’ retirement had as a lot to do with Harrison’s ascension because it did Nunes being happy together with her profession.

“You must perceive, Amanda Nunes did all the pieces,” Abdelaziz advised Submission Radio. She retired as a result of Kayla was coming to the UFC, No. 1. She left ATT as a result of Kayla was coaching there. She turned on the individuals who actually helped her, like Dan Lambert and ‘Conan’ [Marcus Silveira] and all people who helped her as a result of Kayla was getting extra consideration and he or she’s grown, and [Nunes] knew they have been going to need to struggle. Amanda Nunes. her largest nightmare in right here, it was Kayla, and for this reason she retired. She has a variety of delight in her. She retired due to Kayla Harrison. And now she mentioned she desires to come back again. I don’t assume she ever comes again. but when she comes again, that’ll be superb.

“She educated a few instances [with Harrison] and no matter occurred within the coaching room occurred, and he or she by no means wished to coach with Kayla once more. She didn’t need to spar with Kayla once more. She begins coaching by herself away from the crew. Each time Kayla involves the health club, she left. ATT actually created who [Nunes] is and he or she turned on them as a result of she thought Kayla’s coming. And you recognize what? She was coming. She was proper, Kayla’s coming, however she was the champion. She was jewel of the health club, however her insecurity and uncertainty about beating Kayla allowed her to go away the health club.”

Nunes had some enjoyable following Harrison’s UFC 300 win, expressing disappointment on social media that she wasn’t referred to as out in Harrison’s post-fight speech. Harrison responded to Nunes’ response on The MMA Hour, explaining, “She’s been retired for some time now, Harrison mentioned. “If Amanda was nonetheless right here, and he or she was holding the belt, then I’d have been calling for Amanda Nunes. However for all intents and functions, I believed she was fortunately retired and residing her finest life.”

Since her retirement, Nunes hasn’t made any critical overtures concerning a comeback, and Abdelaziz thinks it has no impact on Harrison’s legacy whether or not or not “The Lioness” fights once more.

“I don’t know,” Abdelaziz mentioned when requested if Harrison and Nunes will ever struggle. “I feel Amanda, she missed the eye, and I feel sufficient stress from me and also you speaking about it, all of the media speaking about it, it would tickle her ego somewhat bit for her to come back again.

“However it doesn’t matter. If she desires to come back again, she will come again. She’s going to take this loss and return to retirement.”

Harrison was already a well-known fighter previous to signing with the UFC. The 33-year-old was the primary American to win an Olympic gold medal in judo, which she did in 2012 on the London video games, after which the primary to do it twice when she repeated 4 years later in Rio de Janeiro. She then went on to win two PFL tournaments competing at 155 kilos.

Given Harrison’s spectacular accomplishments, Abdelaziz sees her changing into one of many largest stars in MMA—maybe sometime surpassing the celebrity of Harrison’s former judo coaching associate Ronda Rousey.

“Truthfully, Ronda’s cool, however I feel Kayla is 4.0 in comparison with Ronda,” Abdelaziz mentioned. “It’s not even the identical abilities, it’s not the identical work ethic, it’s not the identical coronary heart. She’s a significantly better fighter than Ronda was or will ever be, that is my humble opinion. Not taking something away from Ronda, she’s a legend, however prime Kayla [vs.] prime Ronda, Kayla would kill Ronda in a struggle. That is my opinion.

“Kayla would be the largest feminine star in historical past, I’m telling you. … Ronda can not struggle like Kayla can. Kayla won’t ever stop. Kayla, she was at all times in a struggle, even robust fights. She fought a complete bunch of ladies on steroids and he or she beat all of them. However in actuality, it’s only a matter of time, like what occurred with Khabib. No one wished to struggle him. … I simply assume she’s this sort of fighter. She’s the form of fighter who individuals are going to keep away from her, however they’re going to expire of street and so they’re going to need to face her someday.”