Burned-out Amanda Nunes feared losing if she kept fighting — ‘I wasn’t happy’ | UFC 334

Former two-division Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion and consensus women's mixed martial arts (MMA) "GOAT" Amanda Nunes returns to challenge former teammate Kayla Harrison for the Bantamweight title in UFC 334's co-main event this weekend (Sat., Nov. 14, 2026) inside iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Nunes has not competed since her dominant title defense over Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023. Moments after the decision was announced, "The Lioness" placed both of her championship belts on the canvas and abruptly retired .

Several factors contributed to the decision.

Nunes wanted to spend more time with her growing family , had dealt with lingering nerve damage from years of fighting and had already accomplished virtually everything possible inside the Octagon.

The 38-year-old Brazilian also desperately needed to rest her mind.

"I feel amazing. I'm really happy to be back," Nunes told UFC.com. "I missed this. I missed everything about MMA. This has been in my life since I was a teenager. When I stepped out, I needed the rest because I was literally on a roll, fighting for so long — defended the belt in two divisions, and I never stopped. I was burned out."

Continuing to fight while mentally exhausted, Nunes believed, could have jeopardized both her legacy and her love for the sport.

"I didn't want to keep pushing through back then and have the risk to lose because I wasn't happy doing the thing that I love to do," Nunes added. "So, when I retired, I needed the break. I needed to reset and needed a clear mind. I needed a break for my body to lose weight, too."

"But when I got the break that I needed, it got boring," Nunes continued. "I got bored at home. My daughter got bored, and my little one didn't get the opportunity to see everything."

It just so happened that Harrison finally arrived in UFC during Nunes' retirement and quickly captured the championship her former American Top Team training partner once held.

Harrison's rise provided Nunes with the perfect challenge—and plenty of motivation to return.

The former teammates were originally scheduled to collide at UFC 324 in January. However, Harrison suffered a neck injury that required surgery , postponing the long-awaited title fight. Rather than compete against a replacement opponent for an interim belt, Nunes elected to wait for the champion to recover .

Now, barring another last-minute cancellation, Nunes will finally get the opportunity to put her hands on Harrison and attempt to become the first three-time UFC women's Bantamweight champion.

More importantly, she will enter the Octagon with the clear mind and renewed enthusiasm she was missing when she walked away three years ago.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 334: "Gane vs. Hokit" news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here .