Former Kayla Harrison Rival Offers Help to Amanda Nunes Ahead of UFC Return

Amanda Nunes could enlist a former Kayla Harrison foe to help her train for her UFC return.

The former two-division champion is expected to end her retirement for a fight against Harrison, who recently captured the bantamweight crown, at a future event. In an interview with Brazilian journalist Diego Ribas following the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony last weekend, Nunes revealed that she has been in conversation with Larissa Pacheco as a potential training partner. Pacheco fought Harrison three times under the Professional Fighters League banner, handing the two-time Olympic gold medalist her lone career defeat in their most recent meeting.

“That´s true, we´ve been talking for [a while], and she already made herself available to help me,” Nunes said. “She already faced Kayla three times, so obviously she will help a lot if she really comes to Florida.”

Nunes also discussed the motivation behind her return and the possibility of multiple fights under the UFC banner.

Nunes: I Want My Belt Back

“I love this sport, I was born for that,” she said. “I’m a fighter, I love challenges, I don’t have injuries and I feel I still have a lot to give. I´m not in need of money. I just want to test myself. I don’t know if it will be a multiple fight deal — we have to talk. My focus now is 100% on getting my belt back.”

“Lioness” revealed that she has returned to the UFC drug-testing pool and hopes to fight before the end of the year. She also said that she trained “five times, at most” with Harrison at American Top Team before departing due to the potential conflict.

“I just left because I knew that this would end up happening,” Nunes said. “I made my choice with no hard feelings against anyone, neither the academy or their trainer. Also I have nothing against Kayla, I just want my belt back and I´m coming to get it.”