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Valentina Shevchenko holding out hope that Amanda Nunes will return for UFC trilogy fight

Valentina Shevchenko believes there is still the chance that she will once again share the Octagon with recently retired two-division titleholder Amanda Nunes. On September 16, ‘Bullet’ will return six months removed from her shocking flyweight title loss to Alexa Grasso at UFC 285. Shevchenko will attempt to reclaim the 125-pound crown as the two […]

Valentina Shevchenko believes there is still the chance that she will once again share the Octagon with recently retired two-division titleholder Amanda Nunes.

On September 16, ‘Bullet’ will return six months removed from her shocking flyweight title loss to Alexa Grasso at UFC 285. Shevchenko will attempt to reclaim the 125-pound crown as the two women collide in the Noche UFC headliner inside the familiar confines of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Speaking with members of the media during Wednesday’s pre-fight press event, Shevchenko briefly spoke about the sudden retirement of her two-time opponent Amanda Nunes who walked away from the sport following a bantamweight title defense against Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June.

“First of all, Amanda is an amazing fighter,” Shevchenko said. “She did amazing things in this sport and I feel that many people, they’re kind of starting to judge [her] a little bit, but I want to say no one has the right to judge a fighter who did that much.”

Valentina Shevchenko says a trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes could still happen #NocheUFC pic.twitter.com/L91CyvdT73

— MMA Mania (@mmamania) September 13, 2023

Valentina Shevchenko Think We Could See Amanda Nunes Back in the Octagon One Day

Valentina Shevchenko and Amanda Nunes have shared the Octagon together on two separate occasions, the first coming at UFC 196 in 2016. ‘The Lioness’ secured a unanimous decision victory over ‘Bullet’, but the pair would run it back 18 months later at UFC 215. ‘Bullet’ would once again come up short, but it wouldn’t come without a bit of controversy as Nunes narrowly escaped with the win via a split decision.

With Nunes now retired from the sport, it appeared that all hope was lost in seeing the two complete their trilogy, but Shevchenko doesn’t see it that way. In an exclusive interview with LowKick MMA, ‘Bullet’ previously suggested that Nunes’ retirement wouldn’t stick. She added to that on Wednesday, suggesting that we could see ‘The Lioness’ return after she’s had time to heal and focus on her family.

“Our second fight, I think she didn’t win,” Shevchenko added. “I think I won that fight. Many people think the same and what I can say right now, if in the future she feels like she’s rested, she’s refocused, and feels she wants to come back, I plan to be around so we will still maybe have this opportunity.”

Do you think we will ever see Amanda Nunes return to complete her trilogy with Valentina Shevchenko?

Exclusive – Valentina Shevchenko believes we haven’t seen the last of Amanda Nunes in the UFC

Valentina Shevchenko isn’t so sure that Amanda Nunes‘ retirement will stick. On September 16, ‘Bullet’ will make her highly anticipated return to the Octagon as she attempts to reclaim the flyweight title she surrendered to Alexa Grasso at UFC 285 in March. Ahead of the rematch at Noche UFC, Shevchenko spoke with James Lynch in […]

Valentina Shevchenko isn’t so sure that Amanda Nunes‘ retirement will stick.

On September 16, ‘Bullet’ will make her highly anticipated return to the Octagon as she attempts to reclaim the flyweight title she surrendered to Alexa Grasso at UFC 285 in March. Ahead of the rematch at Noche UFC, Shevchenko spoke with James Lynch in a LowKick MMA exclusive interview about her impending title tilt and the status of the stacked flyweight division.

During their conversation, ‘Bullet’ was asked for her thoughts on the retirement of two-division women’s world champion, Amanda Nunes. Shevchenko and ‘The Lioness’ are no strangers to one another, having fought on two separate occasions with the first coming at UFC 196 in 2016. Nunes scored a unanimous decision victory over Shevchenko in their inaugural meeting, with the pair running it back a year and a half later at UFC 215. On that night, ‘Bullet’ found herself on the wrong side of a split decision, but the loss didn’t come without a hint of controversy as many fans believe Shevchenko did enough to even the series at 1-1.

“I would like to have this trilogy fight, but I can’t say I’m disappointed,” Shevchenko said of Nunes’ retirement. “Amanda, she made her decision and she had a great career. I think the second fight… The result was not how it was. I think I won that fight.”

Speaking about Nunes’ surprising decision to hang up her four-ounce gloves, Valentina Shevchenko is not entirely convinced that we’ve seen the last of ‘The Lioness’ inside the Octagon.

“She did so many huge things in the fight, in her career. It’s very hard to judge why she [retired], but on the other side, I feel like many people confuse the term retirement and instead of using the term retirement, they could use the term a little layoff,” Shevchenko said. “A little rest. Maybe a year. Maybe two, but not retirement because I feel she is young enough to continue the fight journey. Maybe after a year or two, she’ll change her mind and decide to have another fight or two.”

She continued, “Every time there is a possibility. Something can be different. For example, Henry [Cejudo] decided to retire. After two or three years, he had his family, his babies, and he came back. That’s why I’m saying not to use the term retirement because retirement is something fundamental. It’s forever. Use [the term] take a break and go and rest, then see what is going to be.”

Shevchenko Believes the Pressure of Being a World Champion Could Have Weighed on Amanda Nunes

Nunes walked away from the sport after successfully defending the 135-pound title against Irene Aldana at UFC 289. She relinquished both the bantamweight and featherweight titles, having defended them a combined eight times and facing some of the biggest names in women’s MMA history, including Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm, and of course, Valentina Shevchenko.

“When you have to defend your belt. When you have to prepare in training camp, it’s like constant physical and mental pressure, and definitely, you cannot live this life forever in this pressure,” Shevchenko added. “Sometimes you have to take time to rest and their your mind is recovered up, you say, ‘Why not? Why not give it another shot?’”

Do you think we will see Amanda Nunes return to the Octagon someday?

Ex-UFC champion Amanda Nunes reveals nerve damage led to retirement: ‘My body needs this’

Despite her dominance throughout her reign as both undisputed featherweight and bantamweight champion under the banner of the UFC, Amanda Nunes has revealed a series of niggling injuries and nerve damage built up throughout her career, ultimately forced her hand into retirement. Nunes, a former two-weight champion under the banner of the Dana White-led organization, […]

Nunes, a former two-weight champion under the banner of the Dana White-led organization, confirmed her retirement from active competition back in June following her main event bout at UFC 289 in Canada, landing a unanimous decision win over challenger, Irene Aldana to successfully defend her crown.

Amanda Nunes claims a slew of niggling injuries led to her retirement

Hanging up her gloves after a glittering, gold-laden professional career, Nunes has revealed that a slew of little injuries and, in particular, nerve damage, has forced to her to call time on her spectacular career.

“I cannot kick as much anymore,” Amanda Nunes told Sports Illustrated during a recent interview. “My legs have nerve damage from over the years. So things are starting to get harder for me. My shoulders need rest, my knees. Even my teeth need work after getting hit in the mout so many times. I don’t seem myself back in the cage any time soon. I am looking forward to a break. My body needs this.”

“I wanted Dana to know first,” Amanda Nunes explained. “That was my best opportunity to tell him. I wasn’t sure until then. I needed to feel it in the moment. So, as soon as the fight was over, I told him, ‘I’m done.’ I need to take care of my body and give it a break. We’ll see what happens in the future.”

Reclaiming her bantamweight crown back in July of last year in a one-sided rematch win over Julianna Peña to avenge a shocking 2021 submission loss to the Washington native, over the course of her sparkling career, Nunes has racked up other notable wins over the likes of Valentina Shevchenko, Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm, Germaine de Randamie, Julianna Peña, and Irene Aldana.

Amanda Nunes is revered as one of the best MMA fighters of all time

Mayra Bueno Silva vows to win UFC title, happy to miss out on Amanda Nunes fight: ‘She would kill me’

Surging bantamweight contender, Mayra Bueno Silva insists she is ready to compete for divisional spoils for the first time in her Octagon tenure, however, openly admitted she would find herself on the wrong end of a hypothetical clash with compatriot, Amanda Nunes. Silva, who most recently headlined UFC Vegas 77 earlier this month, turned in […]

Silva, who most recently headlined UFC Vegas 77 earlier this month, turned in her stunning fourth consecutive victory, stopping former bantamweight champion, Holly Holm with a stunning second round ninja choke win over the Albuquerque veteran.

The win came as the Brazilian’s fourth in succession, having previously submitted both Lina Lansberg, and Stephanie Egger, after a unanimous decision win over Wu Yanan.

Immediately calling for a vacant bantamweight title affair with the outspoken former divisional champion, Julianna Peña – Silva remained extremely confident of toppling the Washington native, who has herself been linked to a vacant title pairing with one-time title chaser, Raquel Pennington.

Mayra Bueno Silva campaigns for vacant title fight in UFC return

And furthermore, the Minas Gerais native claims the UFC should just book her against Peña next for a vacant bantamweight crown.

“I showed everybody that I’m the next face for the bantamweight division,” Mayra Bueno Silva told MMA Junkie. “I need the title shot now. Nobody wants to watch Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña. Nobody wants this. The fight to do now is Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Julianna Peña. I showed my fighting is more exciting.”

"Amanda kill me!": Mayra Bueno Silva is glad Amanda Nunes retired – because she wouldn't like her chances in a fight.@mma_kings' interview: https://t.co/SLw0qrJOP7 pic.twitter.com/DvSqjS3fma

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) July 25, 2023

Weighing up the possibility of a hypothetical pairing with former two-weight champion, Nunes, whom retired from combat sports back in June, Silva openly admitted she would suffer a loss in the pairing.

“No, of course not, Amanda (Nunes) would kill me,” Mayra Bueno Silva explained. “Amanda, thank you so much, you finished now. Take care of your family, everything good. I promise that I take the belt – the Brazilian belt.”

Julianna Peña again needles ex-UFC titleholder Amanda Nunes in retirement: ‘I’m the first mom champion’

Former UFC bantamweight champion, Julianna Pena, targets Mayra Bueno Silva in latest verbal tirade. Recently, Pena has significantly ramped up her trash-talking and promotional attempts, and whether you like it or not she is getting the attention she is wanting. This time, she has targeted Silva, who recently gained the best win of her career […]

Former UFC bantamweight champion, Julianna Pena, targets Mayra Bueno Silva in latest verbal tirade.

Recently, Pena has significantly ramped up her trash-talking and promotional attempts, and whether you like it or not she is getting the attention she is wanting. This time, she has targeted Silva, who recently gained the best win of her career this past weekend over Holly Holm.

Julianna Peña addresses trash talk

Appearing on The MMA Hour, Pena addressed Silva’s recent trash talk, and would continue with her recent shtick and would trash Silva, but not before boasting of her own accomplishments.

“I’m the first mom champ. I’m the first to beat somebody who hadn’t been beaten in seven years and finish them,” said Pena. “I finished everybody on The Ultimate Fighter. She’s saying that I don’t have any good fights. I literally beat everybody on The Ultimate Fighter. So after that, then I fought more, and then I had that devastating knee injury. So at that point, I think I was 7-0, and then I fought Valentina.

So dropped one fight, 7-1, had a baby, came back, and then was able to win a world title. And she says that I only have two good fights. I mean, literally, I’m the baddest mother of all-time, and Myra is my biggest fan and [Amanda Nunes’] tampon holder. That’s the reality of the situation.”

“I thought I recognized her,” Pena continued. “I said, ‘Isn’t that curtain-jerker from the APEX like a few years ago?’ But yeah, then I remembered that she fought two 41-year-olds and then started talking bad about me, and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I for sure know who this chick is.’

Pena has stated that she is a sure thing to be one half of the fight for the vacant bantamweight championship, following Amanda Nunes‘ retirement.

Julianna Pena on the MMA Hour

Who would you like to see Julianna Pena face next?

Holly Holm defends Amanda Nunes’ UFC retirement: ‘She didn’t retire because she’s scared of Julianna Peña’

Ahead of her own return tonight in the main event of UFC Vegas 77, former bantamweight champion, Holly Holm has stressed that former foe and former two-weight champion, Amanda Nunes has no fear toward former gold holder, Julianna Peña – in the wake of her retirement last month. Holm, a former undisputed bantamweight champion, returns […]

Holm, a former undisputed bantamweight champion, returns to the Octagon for the second time this year, headlining against surging Brazilian grappler, Mayra Bueno Silva – attempting to land her second consecutive victory following a unanimous decision win over Russian veteran, Yana Santos at UFC Fight Night San Antonio back in March.

As for Nunes, the Bahia native headlined UFC 288 back in June against common-foe, Irene Aldana, defeating the Mexican in a one-sided unanimous decision win to defend her bantamweight crown – before announcing her retirement from competition with immediate effect.

And in the aftermath of Nunes’ decision to walk away from the sport, Washington native, Peña claimed that the Brazilian was fearful of defeat against her, claiming she skirted a championship trilogy rubber match.

Holly Holm defends Amanda Nunes’ decision to retire following UFC 288

However, as far as Albuquerque veteran, Holly Holm is concerned, Nunes’ decision to retire was not influenced by an apparent fear of ex-champion, Peña.

“(Amanda) Nunes didn’t retire because she’s scared of (Julianna) Peña,” Holly Holm told MMA Fighting ahead of UFC Vegas 77. “We all know that. But Peña beat Nunes fair and square. Who knows what was going on. I’m not trying to take away from Peña at all. She went in and she won that night, so I take nothing away from that, but Nunes is not scared of Peña.”

15-6 as a professional, Holm, the current number three ranked bantamweight contender, became just the second bantamweight champion in the history of the UFC back in December 2015, knocking out inaugural champion, Ronda Rousey with a brutal second round high-kick KO in Australia.