‘Call Me, I Miss You!’

‘The Lioness’ is in shape and ready to fight based on a new video the former two-division champion uploaded to Instagram on Monday night.

Is Amanda Nunes about to make a comeback? It certainly looks like it based on a new video she just shared to her social media.

Nunes retired from the UFC in 2023 after defeating Irene Aldana at UFC 289 — vacating the women’s bantamweight and featherweight titles at the same time. The given reason: nerve damage in her legs, and the desire to just enjoy life and being a mother.

But “The Lioness” has stayed in shape over the past year and a half, and in a new video she flaunted her fight-ready physique in an Instagram story tagging UFC CEO Dana White. Take a look:

The former champ had a big smile on her face as she danced and sang along to music in her gym. She’s wearing weight lifting gloves and sporting a solid set of abs. She’s singing, “Call me, please, I miss you so much.”

It’s definitely a good time for Amanda Nunes to return. Her would-be rival Juliana Pena just won the 135 pound belt back under dubious circumstances. Kayla Harrison is ready for a title shot as far as rankings go but can’t make weight without her body shutting down. Maybe “The Lioness” should come back, do a rubber match to break the 1-1 tie with Pena, and then Kayla can have time to recover and a twofer waiting for her: a UFC title shot and a legacy shot at Nunes.

We don’t know what happens to 135 after that. Nunes may be interested in a few more paydays but is she willing to keep fighting random contenders? Kayla was supposed to be ‘the next coming,’ but given these health issues we are betting on her being ‘the next going’ once she ticks off some legacy accomplishments.

And then what? Another vacant women’s bantamweight title fight in our future? It makes for a solid 2025, but here’s hoping someone else emerges in the women’s bantamweight division to carry the torch.