Kayla Harrison believes she is one step closer to bringing Amanda Nunes back into retirement with a dominant victory over Holly Holm in her Ultimate Fighting Championship debut.
Harrison earned a second-round submission victory over the former UFC bantamweight champion at UFC 300 on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The former two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka has called for a title shot next, vowing to become champion by the end of 2024.
“Next time I want a title, Joe.” [Rogan]” Harrison said in the postgame interview. “That’s what I came here for, one thing and one thing only. Raquel, I don’t care.
[Pennington]or Juliana. [Pena]By the end of the year I will be UFC champion. ”
Harrison’s performance certainly caught the attention of the consensus women’s MMA GOAT, Amanda Nunes. “The Lioness” retired after defending her bantamweight title against Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023, but she has since hinted that she might return. Nunes posted a post-fight interview with Harrison on her Instagram Story in which she hinted at a possible conflict. The Brazilian wrote “chama,” which means “fire,” but was popularized by UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira as slang for “let’s go.” Harrison has been rallying around her dream fight with Nunes for quite some time and believes plans are in motion to bring the former double champion back from her retirement.
“Chama! I think this plan is working,” Harrison told TNT Sports.
Raquel Pennington, who won the vacant title with a unanimous decision win over Maira Bueno Silva at UFC 297 in January, has called up former champion Julianna Pena for her first title defense. Harrison is eyeing a possible matchup with either Pennington or Pena next, but like the rest of the division, both were negative.
“I mean, they don’t think so.” [Pena and Pennington] It’s a good fit for me,” Harrison said. “I don’t think there’s anyone who can match me in this division. I think I’m an unstoppable force right now, and it’s my turn now.”
