Raquel Pennington is not surprised by Amanda Nunes hinting at a comeback, as she praises Nunes’ competitive spirit and believes the bantamweight division is gaining recognition and depth following Nunes’ retirement.
Raquel Pennington isn’t surprised at all by Amanda Nunes hinting at a possible return to the octagon. After losing the bantamweight title to Julianna Peña in a controversial split decision at UFC 307, Pennington ignored Kayla Harrison and aimed for a trilogy fight with Nunes. The third bout was set for UFC 289 in June 2023, but Peña’s injury led Nunes to defend against Irene Aldana instead. Nunes won decisively and then announced her retirement.
Nunes later posted on social media, tagging UFC CEO Dana White and asking him to call her. If “The Lioness” decides to come back, Pennington will be cheering her on. “Obviously Amanda and I have fought, but we’ve known each other since Invicta,” Pennington told MMA Fighting. “I’ve always supported her career, she’s supported mine.”
Pennington added that their families are close, often staying together when visiting Florida. “They’re competitors — both of them — and so it’s not just even Amanda,” she said. Athletes often struggle with knowing when to retire, she explained. Conversations with Amanda and Nina revealed they might return, despite saying they’re done for now.
Amanda is known as the GOAT for a reason; she loves proving doubters wrong. She’s expressed wanting to silence Kayla Harrison and has strong feelings about Julianna Peña. If Peña regains the belt, Nunes is eager to return and face her again. Pennington isn’t shocked by Nunes’ recent video, given her competitive nature.
Nunes would be a welcome addition to the current bantamweight scene, which gained more attention after her retirement. With Pennington, Peña, Harrison, Vieira, and others in the mix, the division has become more exciting. Pennington believes recognition has been deserved for some time.
“It’s kind of like when Ronda left,” Pennington said. “Amanda started a successful run but faced criticism.” Change is hard initially, she noted, but the women’s bantamweight division has plenty of talent. She found it disrespectful that Ketlen Vieira wasn’t given credit against Kayla Harrison.
“There’s talent here,” she emphasized. The division needs more recognition for its skilled fighters.