For a significant portion of her career, Amanda Nunes trained under the coaching staff at American Top Team in Florida. However, she eventually chose to leave the gym and establish her own private training facility, dedicated exclusively to her own preparation and needs.
This transition proved successful. Nunes rebounded from a previous defeat, dominating Julianna Peña over five rounds to regain the UFC bantamweight championship. She defended her belt convincingly against Irene Aldana in what was initially her last fight before announcing retirement. Now, as Nunes prepares for a potential return to competition, facing Harrison, she acknowledges that the looming possibility of this fight was the primary reason she initially departed American Top Team.
Speaking during the UFC 316 post-fight broadcast, Nunes confirmed, “Yes, I did [leave because of Kayla Harrison].” She explained, “Because when she arrived there, she began training with my coaches, Mike Brown, Anderson [Franca], everyone, and I foresaw that this fight would eventually materialize.”
“Had I remained there,” Nunes continued, “it would pose a significant issue. A massive problem for [American Top Team owner] Dan [Lambert]. One of us would have had to relocate. Both training at the same gym simultaneously would never have been feasible.”
Similar conflicts have occurred within American Top Team historically, typically resulting in one of the involved fighters leaving the facility. Examples include the dynamic between Tyron Woodley and Robbie Lawler, and the intensely volatile situation between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal, both leading to splits.
According to Nunes, from the moment Harrison began publicly mentioning her as a potential opponent, she felt it was unavoidable that they would eventually have to disregard their shared team affiliation to resolve their rivalry in the cage. However, Nunes also clarified that despite training at the same gym for several years, she disputes claims that she was particularly close to Harrison, or even that they regularly served as primary training partners for one another.
“Honestly, we could sense it at the gym,” Nunes stated. “As soon as she had a microphone, she would talk about me. From that point, we already started feeling differently; we always maintained respect within the gym, but we understood the situation. The energy between us just never clicked. We would train occasionally, but we were never consistent training partners at the gym. Let`s be truthful. We were never training partners in the usual sense.”
“When we did train together sporadically, I was often out of shape,” she added. “Whenever I returned to the gym, somehow we`d end up training, and I`d think, ‘Seriously? Training with Kayla when I`m completely out of condition?’ That didn`t seem right. Now, she will face me when I am fully in fight camp, 100 percent strong ‘The Lioness,’ and she will truly experience who I am inside the cage.”
Following her announcement to return from retirement, and with Harrison now a champion after her dominant performance against Julianna Peña at UFC 316, Nunes expressed excitement for the upcoming challenge.
Nunes must first re-enter the UFC`s anti-doping program, which mandates six months of testing before a previously retired athlete is cleared to compete. Nevertheless, she anticipates the highly awaited confrontation with Harrison will take place before the conclusion of 2025.
“Honestly, I`m going to commit to full-time training camp,” Nunes stated, noting she had been training sporadically but staying in reasonable shape. “Realistically, I might be ready to compete around November or December.”
Regarding her future plans, Nunes vowed that her return is not solely for a single fight against Harrison before retiring once more.
Instead, she intends to regain her championship belt and then compete against the top contenders in the 135-pound division. Feeling refreshed and revitalized, she is prepared to reclaim the dominance she once held.
“Look, my body feels good, I have no injuries,” Nunes affirmed. “My mind is sharp. My spirit is ready for anything. I plan to capture the belt and defend it for as long as possible. I`m prepared to repeat my previous achievements entirely. You haven`t witnessed this before; I`ll be the first. I`m going to rebuild my legacy, become champion again, defend the title, and continue forward. Honestly, I`m incredibly motivated for this.”
