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Amanda Nunes, the ex-champion in two weight categories of UFC, whose name is rooted in history as the greatest female fighter, has taken everyone by surprise with her comeback at UFC 324 for the title fight in January 2026, which she is now supporting. So had the announcement, which was revealed through a promo video, initiated a very hot and passionate debate immediately about her chances, legacy, and women’s MMA status. This event is already drawing comparisons to the intense atmosphere of a UFC Paris showdown.
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The organization released a video showing Nunes revealing her intentions. ‘I’m gonna get my belt back again,’ she stated with confidence in the video. ‘I’m gonna come back here, keep making history. This is what I was born for. This is what I come here to do.’ Even though an opponent was not mentioned, the announcement, however, gives the green light for a very significant event to open up the 2026 fight calendar. The general speculation, which is based on the promotion’s history and the fans’ guesses, suggests that there could be a mega showdown with the current champion Kayla Harrison.
The announcement of Nunes’s return to the ring was met with divided and quick reactions, unmasking the divisions within the fighting community. Supporters of the fighter dubbed ‘The Lioness’ were cheering her on and showing unwavering confidence in her. One user commented, ‘Amanda you got this, you are a warrior queen. don’t ever let them test you like this again, fuck them upppppp, mistress of striking!!!’ Other users were just as supportive, simply saying, ‘Let’s go!!! You got this Lioness.’
Conversely, a large section of the audience reacted with skepticism or outright dismissal of her return. A lot of the comments were about how Nunes looked like in the video, and some of those comments were quite offensive or even derogatory. ‘Jesus christ that looks like a man. Wtf drugs she on????’ was one of the comments. Another comment was simply, ‘Hope Kayla knocks dude out.’ This kind of commenting, while disgusting, points to a constant and controversial issue in the debates around female fighters in combat sports that are top-rated.
The personal assaults aside, somewhat more serious sport-related issues arose for discussion. A portion of the spectators thinks that the comeback is a mistake, they contend the game has already moved on. ‘I am a Nunes fan, but it would honestly be bad for the sport if she won,’ a supporter claims. ‘I hope Kayla smokes her tbh.’ This viewpoint suggests that a victory for the experienced fighter returning from retirement could inhibit the growth of the division. Others just got impatient with the playing the retirement-reversal game that is today’s sports trend. Someone commented dryly, ‘… the whole retire/unretire thingy is, uh, tiring…’
Besides that, other legends were also affected by the announcement. Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino, a former opponent that Nunes defeated in a stunning 51-second knockout in 2018, seized the opportunity to reignite their rivalry. ‘She was better that night….but 29-2 I deserved that rematch. #CyborgNunes2,’ Caiybor tweeted, accompanied by a photograph from their initial fight. This public challenge to Nunes serves as an extra component of the subplot to her return, foreshadowing not only the immediate title picture but also potentially lucrative fights.
At first, the champion then retired in June 2023 after a fight in which she was not just victorious but dominating, thus she was the champion in both the featherweight and bantamweight categories. Nunes’s highlight reel includes not just her two wins over Ronda Rousey and Valentina Shevchenko, but also the legendary victory over Cyborg. Returning from a monster like Kayla Harrison to claim the title would probably be the hardest test of her career. The judo Olympic champion Harrison has been almost unbeatable since her entry into the UFC.
The promotional video shows a determined and powerful Nunes but the public is already forming its judgments. The comments depict a situation that is split between admiration for the champion with a record and the notion that a new era, presided by Harrison, is inevitable. Some consider it to be a victorious return to glory while others see it as a bloody passing of the torch. The matter is made even more complex by the continued and unhealthy debates on gender and physiology that plague women’s sports.
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It is now a fact that Amanda Nunes is challenging herself to reclaim her title. The path goes through UFC 324 on January 24, 2026. Whether she is going for a coronation or a last push, the story will be that of the promotion’s decision for the following year. The Lioness has made her return, and the jungle is already filled with its uproar. The success of such major fight cards often depends on strong leadership from figures like Dana White, who has faced criticism before, such as when fans slammed a UFC 319 main event.