Amanda Nunes May Be Coming Back for One Reason: Protect the Throne
When Amanda Nunes walked away from the UFC in June 2023, she did so with her head high and her legacy secured. Or so we thought. Retirement in combat sports has always been a tricky promise to keep, and for champions like Nunes—who redefined dominance in women’s MMA—the pull of the octagon isn’t just emotional. It’s historical.
With whispers growing louder in April 2025 of a possible return, one truth is becoming clearer: Amanda Nunes isn’t just fighting for competition—she’s protecting her status as the greatest of all time.
🐐🏆 CONFIRMED: Amanda Nunes will fight again in the UFC.
Julianna Pena gets booed😅
🎥 @ufc pic.twitter.com/n6UWxrkpSr
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) April 11, 2025
The Resume That Changed Women’s MMA
Amanda Nunes’ legacy isn’t just about titles—it’s about who she beat and how she did it. In the bantamweight division, she became champion by submitting Miesha Tate at UFC 200. From there, she ran through a murderer’s row: Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, and Germaine de Randamie, among others. She defended the bantamweight belt six times in total—an iron grip that spanned nearly seven years with only one hiccup: a loss to Julianna Peña that she quickly avenged in dominant fashion.
Amanda Nunes 🔥
The First Women Who Knockout Cris Cyborg 🔥
She’s Incredible#ChampChamp pic.twitter.com/ohBWWVtFES— Yazayn Siddiqui (@YazaynSiddiqui) December 30, 2018
Then there’s the featherweight crown. Nunes knocked out the seemingly indestructible Cris Cyborg in under a minute to become the first female champ-champ in UFC history. She defended that belt twice before walking away from both divisions as a reigning dual champion—something no other woman in the sport had ever done.
Eight title defenses. Two belts. Iconic victories. That’s a body of work built for the Hall of Fame.
But the GOAT Crown Isn’t Permanent
Enter Valentina Shevchenko—the technician, the tactician, and arguably the most consistent female striker in UFC history. While Shevchenko doesn’t always deliver highlight-reel finishes, she’s the queen of dominance by attrition, despite two losses to Nunes. Seven straight title defenses in the flyweight division, a record-setting run that remains untouched by any other female fighter in a single division.
Valentina Shevchenko (19-3) is still your UFC women’s flyweight queen, tyrannizing Katlyn Chookagian en route to a third-round TKO in her third title defense. Only Amanda Nunes can test her. #UFC247 pic.twitter.com/Sp0ihFgP99
— Kyle Johnson (@VonPreux) February 9, 2020
And now, Shevchenko is back on top after reclaiming her title from Alexa Grasso. With another defense lined up this May, she’s closing in on Amanda’s total. All it takes is two more successful defenses, and the conversation begins to shift.
Yes, Nunes has more diversity in her accolades—two divisions, massive names on her resume—but Shevchenko’s relentless consistency and longevity are starting to rival that (much like her fighting style). The GOAT debate isn’t static. It evolves. And with Nunes on the sidelines, Shevchenko is gaining ground fast.
Valentina Shevchenko is still your UFC Women’s Flyweight champ. And she just about flatlined Jessica Eye. Frightening. #UFC238 pic.twitter.com/W5B24wzl6S
— Bulgogi Jones (@Hamderlei) June 9, 2019
Why a Comeback Makes Sense
If Nunes stays retired, she risks watching her legacy fade behind the steady drumbeat of Shevchenko victories. The allure of a final proving ground—perhaps against Peña again or a megafight with Kayla Harrison—might be the only way to slam the door shut on any future debates. But make no mistake: Nunes doesn’t return just to fight. She returns to remind the world of her place in the pantheon.
There’s danger in returning, of course. Time away leads to ring rust. The division has evolved. But for a lioness, a threat to the throne is never ignored. She smells it. And she’s circling back at her own peril.
