`The Lioness` is potentially returning, which could inject excitement into the women`s bantamweight division.
Amanda Nunes, who retired in 2023, hinted at a comeback at the UFC 316 press conference after appearing on screen.
The bantamweight title will be contested on June 7 in Newark as Julianna Pena defends against Kayla Harrison, another fighter with a history with Nunes.
Nunes was announced for this year`s Hall of Fame at UFC 314 in Miami, solidifying her legacy in the sport.
Despite the buzz around the former champ-champ`s return after her Hall of Fame induction, not everyone is convinced.
Chael Sonnen can’t understand why fans seem to care about Amanda Nunes returning. He points out that leading up to her retirement, her fights didn`t always capture fan interest.
This was partly because of Nunes` dominance, leaving her without clear rivals after defeating top fighters like Valentina Shevchenko and Cris Cyborg.
Sonnen mentioned in a YouTube video about Nunes and Kayla Harrison that he felt a video thumbnail featuring them wouldn`t attract clicks.
Sonnen, a Hall of Famer himself for his fights with Anderson Silva, questions the current excitement for Nunes` return, given the perceived lack of interest during her active years.
Many argue that a lack of compelling matchups existed for Nunes, and Kayla Harrison potentially defeating Julianna Pena at UFC 316 could create a fresh and interesting challenge to `The Lioness`.
However, Sonnen believes the expressed excitement is merely politeness for a legend`s possible return.
“This is very polite. It`s very polite to pretend that you want Amanda Nunes to come back, it`s very polite but I`m just not really sure why you`re doing it. You didn`t get excited when she was here the first time. You didn`t come out, you didn`t buy a T-shirt, you wouldn`t watch the show because, you wouldn`t buy the pay-per-view because and now you`re pretending that you want her to come back.”
Sonnen clarified that his comments are not about Nunes personally, but about his confusion over the shift in fan perception.
“She`s the greatest of all time. I`ve also met her and she turns out she`s like a really, really nice human being in addition to that. It`s not a commentary on that. You don`t want to see her fight and you never did so I struggle with this newfound curiosity of will she come back.”
Chael Sonnen believes that Amanda Nunes hasn’t improved since she met Kayla Harrison. Beyond Harrison`s skills making her a compelling opponent for Nunes, there is history between them.
Nunes left American Top Team after Harrison joined, reportedly due to feeling too close to potential rivals.
Sonnen suggests Nunes` performance declined after leaving ATT, arguing that since their first meeting, Harrison has progressed significantly while Nunes has remained stagnant.
“From that day until right now, Amanda is not one teeny tiny millimetre better than she was that day. However good she was the day she reached out and said, `Hi I`m Amanda,` and that person said, `Hi my name is Kayla,` Amanda is not one technique, one stroke, one move, one combination, one bit better and that isn`t true for Kayla.”
