Amanda Nunes UFC return? Dana White weighs in

LAS VEGAS – Amanda Nunes’ crypticity has been burning on all cylinders lately, but Dana White thinks it’s easy to decode.

During and after Saturday’s UFC 307, a card featuring two key women’s bantamweight title fights, Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC) said both a little and a lot. First it was some emojis on X. Then a video of herself dancing with White’s handle tagged was shown.

“She looks good,” White laughed at a post-fight news conference of Dana White’s Contender Series 75 at the UFC Apex. “She looks great. Looks like she’s still in good shape. You know where her head is at and I love that about her. There are a lot of things I like about her – and I love that about her. She’s keeping an eye on who wins the next title and I think she’s teasing that she might be interested in coming back.

Nunes, 36, retired in June 2023 after a title win over Irene Aldana. She mentioned a desire to spend more time with her wife, former UFC fighter Nina Nunes, and their young daughter.

There have been two title fights since Nunes left. The first was for the vacant title at UFC 297 in January, with Raquel Pennington claiming gold with a decision victory over Mayra Bueno Silva.

Then at Saturday’s UFC 307, Pennington lost the title in a highly controversial split decision to Julianna Peña, a fighter who is 1-1 lifetime against Nunes.

Olympic gold medalist and former PFL champion Kayla Harrison also won a unanimous decision against Ketlen Vieira on Saturday, establishing herself as potentially the next challenger for Peña.