Kayla Harrison Wants to Win UFC Title, Welcome Amanda Nunes Back from Retirement

Kayla Harrison didn’t take long to respond to the video published by former two-division Amanda Nunes in the aftermath of the Olympic judoka’s successful Octagon debut at UFC 300.

“I didn’t say her name because for me Amanda was already retired,” Harrison told Brazilian journalist Diego Ribas. “If I knew she was planning to return, of course I would call her out. But if she wants to come back, I will welcome her with open arms.”

While Harrison looked strong in her first fight at 135 pounds, she admitted that making the cut was challenging.

“The last pound was mentally very hard,” Harrison said. “I slept really bad that night, but whenever I set a goal in my life I always achieve it.”

Current bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington recently stated that Harrison should not be able to fight for a UFC title in just her second promotional appearance. Harrison doesn’t necessarily agree.

“If I were Raquel, I would say the same if I had a beast coming to get my gold,” Harrison said. “But she also has to consider that I´m a two-time Olympic champion, two-time PFL Champion, I’m 17-1 and I made a statement against a former champion in my UFC debut. My job is to kick ass, not matchmaking, but if you consider that everybody fought everybody in that division, I think a title shot would make sense for me. But I´m not the one who chooses.”

When it comes to choosing a preference between fighting for a belt or getting a shot at Nunes, Harrison wants the best of both worlds.

“I want to win the title and fight Amanda,” Harrison said. “I don’t know ... Both. Amanda and the title would be perfect.”