Amanda Nunes, who sits next to Valentina Shevchenko as one of the greatest female MMA hunters of all time, chose to end her career at UFC 289 mid-2023.
At the time, the Brazilian legend held both the Bantamweight and the featherweight titles. Nunes' victory over Irene Aldana had recovered the first from Julianna Pena, marked her farewell.
Or did it?
It was not long before Comeback rumors to swirl, and Nunes himself blew the flames by bringing out training images that suggested that her career as an active hunter was far from over.
More recently 'The Lioness' has explained her desire to compete again in the middle of back and forth with both reigning champion Pena and the upcoming title champion Kayla Harrison.
But not everyone supports that plan.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Valentina Shevchenko says that Amanda Nunes' comeback plan is' not good '
During a recent interview with InsideFighting, Shevchenko followed the example with another of the former opponents of the retired star.
Cris Cyborg assessed Nunes' return plans in an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow. While she took a largely waiting approach to the issue, Shevchenko was certain that her aversion to hunters playing briefly retirement.
“I feel hunters, when they are no longer active, but they were at the top and had all this attention … They miss this feeling,” said Shevchenko.
“That's why you see a lot of the hunters, they have huge announcements of their retirement, but after a few years they lack the feeling of being in the fight, having this adrenaline, all this attention, and say:” Why don't I come back? “
“I feel it is a bit of the word of retirement. … If you are not sure, [only put down one glove]. So they are not so big and huge words about retirement. In any case, your conscience, if you follow your word or do not follow, it becomes clear.
'I don't like it if people [don’t] Stand behind their words. “
What Amanda Nunes said about a third fight against Valentina Shevchenko
If nunes commit herself to her expected return, it seems that a possible trilogy collision with Shevchenko is off the table.
The Brazilian was previously twice better from her Kyrgyz pear, first in a non-title fight on UFC 196. Then, a year later in 2017, Nunes defeated controversial Shevchenko in their main event of the championship at UFC 215.
Both women entertained the prospect of a third battle in the following years. But in what her last media day appeared to be before retirement, Nunes closed the door on the rivalry.
“Don't know, [about facing Shevchenko again]”Said Nunes.” I think I have a lot of noise on 135 [pounds] At the moment, and I don't think the UFC is going to stop and then goes back to the Valentina. That does not sell anything. “
However, that attitude does not mean that trilogy deployment is outside the comparison when nunes returns.
A possible comeback would apparently challenge 'The Lioness', the winner of the Bantamweight title fight on UFC 316 between Pena and Harrison.
Nunes has history with both women, who went 1-1 with Pena over two UFC fights and trained with Harrison for a somewhat bitter splitting of the American top team.