Fresh off a dominant win at UFC 316, Kayla Harrison now stands on the edge of what could become the most high-stakes showdown of her career.
Kayla Harrison Ready for Amanda Nunes but Refuses to Fuel Rivalry Drama
Following her emphatic submission win over Julianna Peña at UFC 316, Kayla Harrison welcomed Amanda Nunes back into the octagon. The brief faceoff teased what could be one of the biggest fights in women’s MMA history. Nunes, a former two-division champion considered the female GOAT by many, retired last year at UFC 289 but is set to return for a high-stakes showdown—likely before 2025.
AMANDA NUNES VS. KAYLA HARRISON 🔥
THIS WILL BE SPECIAL 🍿 #UFC316 pic.twitter.com/2Cwwh2ySIA
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 8, 2025
Though the pairing carries star power, it’s not without a complicated history. Both Harrison and Nunes previously trained under the same roof at American Top Team. That shared past has fueled speculation about behind-the-scenes friction.
However, Harrison dismissed any personal grudges with Nunes during a recent interview with MMA Fighting. “I mean at first I thought she left because she lost [to Peña] but why would she say that if she didn’t mean it? … Maybe that’s why she left, I’m not really sure and it doesn’t matter. I know that I’ve carried myself accordingly.”
For her part, Nunes has echoed Harrison’s sentiment, acknowledging no bad blood but citing the inevitability of their future clash as a reason for distancing from ATT.
Harrison believes the narrative of betrayal has been overstated.
“Everyone at the gym was like until she left, everyone in the gym was doing everything in their power to not let me go to the UFC. Dan [Lambert] was like ‘the money, PFL, blah, blah, blah. I’ve been very patient. … Whatever she thinks, I’m OK with. I have peace with it because I know who I am and we’re good.”
Despite public assumptions, the two fighters rarely trained together and never shared a deep sparring bond. “No, we were not main training partners. We weren’t in the same promotion. We weren’t in the same weight class. … But we trained not a lot and I’m OK with that, that was her choice.”
Still, Harrison is aware of how combustible such situations can become. She watched American Top Team nearly implode during the infamous Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal rivalry, which escalated beyond the octagon into a real-life altercation and criminal charges.
“My hope is we can do this the martial artist way and just show up and have respect and bring out the absolute best in each other,” Harrison said. “I do not want a Colby-Masvidal situation. That would suck.”
“But I’m ATT till I die. Don’t f*ck with my homies. I’m an ATT girl through and through. Those are my people. I’m OK defending myself. You know I’m not shy. I’m not afraid to chirp back if I need to.”
Kayla Harrison reacts to Amanda Nunes saying she left ATT to avoid conflict with her:
“I do not want a Colby-Masvidal situation. That would suck.”
(🎥 @DamonMartin) pic.twitter.com/lGVRFMlHXk
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 12, 2025
Ultimately, Harrison seems focused on elevating the sport through high-level competition, not locker room feuds. And while the tension may linger in headlines, she’s determined to let her fighting—and respect—do the talking.