Amanda Nunes’ long-awaited return to MMA has maintained some question marks around it, but a former UFC championship adversary of hers has spilled a bit of tea, to use the parlance of our time, on the possible return timeline. The combatant in question is Cris Cyborg, who will throw down in what could be her final MMA fight ever. The PFL featherweight champ will defend her 145-pound crown at PFL Tampa in August against newly signed Ketlen Vieira.
Vieira is coming over to the PFL Smart Cage after a strong run in the UFC that saw her test skills with current UFC bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison in a bout that vaulted the former PFL lightweight champ to her UFC title shot. The five promotion titleholder fielded questions from on-site media as Cyborg was on hand during PFL San Diego fight week, which culminates this Saturday with AJ McKee clashing with Salamat Isbulaev in the June 27th main event.
When asked if she feels like we will ultimately see this fight between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes happen this calendar year in the UFC, Cyborg said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“I hear. I don’t know where I hear but they say maybe they’re going to fight in September, Amanda [Nunes] and Kayla [Harrison] in LA. I’m not sure if I know right but some gossip. But I know Kayla did a surgery and she was recovering. I know I’m going to be waiting for this fight. I’m excited to see this fight.”
Amanda Nunes was not impressed by Ronda Rousey’s return to MMA
Amanda Nunes did not necessarily verbalize her lack of intrigue in Ronda Rousey’s return bout in May, but a particular emote told the story. A neutral face emoji posted on Nunes’ social media indicated a lack of being captivated by the former Olympic medalist’s sub-twenty-second armbar victory over Gina Carano at the Netflix MMA card last month.
Speaking of the aforementioned Cyborg, Carano’s last fight prior to the MVP MMA clash with “Rowdy” was against Cris Cyborg in August 2009. For Rousey, her last fight prior to the Carano cross-generational contest was against Nunes, who promptly dispatched the former UFC bantamweight champion with strikes as Nunes retained the 135-pound gold in December 2016.
