Amanda Nunes says she retired 'burned out' rather than risk losing while unhappy

The former two-division champion, who challenges Kayla Harrison for the bantamweight title at UFC 334 on Saturday, said she got bored at home during her time away.

Amanda Nunes has said she walked away from the UFC in 2023 because she was burned out, and did not want to keep fighting while unhappy and risk losing.

"When I stepped out, I needed the rest because I was literally on a roll, fighting for so long — defended the belt in two divisions, and I never stopped. I was burned out," Nunes told UFC.com in an interview quoted by MMA Mania.

She added: "I didn't want to keep pushing through back then and have the risk to lose because I wasn't happy doing the thing that I love to do. So, when I retired, I needed the break. I needed to reset and needed a clear mind. I needed a break for my body to lose weight, too."

The 38-year-old Brazilian placed both of her belts on the canvas and retired moments after beating Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023. Of the time that followed, she said: "But when I got the break that I needed, it got boring. I got bored at home. My daughter got bored, and my little one didn't get the opportunity to see everything."

Nunes now challenges her former American Top Team training partner Harrison for the bantamweight title in the UFC 334 co-main event at Madison Square Garden on Saturday 14 November. The fight was first set for UFC 324 in January but was postponed when Harrison needed surgery on a neck injury.

Nunes has also said she will not walk away again if she wins. Asked on UFC's Deep Waters whether she would retire with the belt back around her waist, she said she would stay on to defend it: "You gotta defend the belt, for sure."

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