Amanda Nunes accused of rejecting one other UFC title fight amid Kayla Harrison absence attributable to ‘fear’

Amanda Nunes has chosen to attend for the UFC bantamweight champion’s full recovery.

The consensus biggest female fighter of all time in mixed martial arts was scheduled to make her UFC return this past January lower than three years after retiring.

But reigning bantamweight queen Kayla Harrison withdrew from the Nunes fight attributable to a neck injury that required surgery, delaying that grudge match between former teammates.

The Brazilian is continuous her preparation within the gym while awaiting Harrison’s return, having apparently opted against facing one other fighter with gold on the road within the meantime.

Norma Dumont believes Amanda Nunes turned down their fight attributable to ‘fear of losing’

It didn’t take long for the UFC to verify plans for Harrison vs Nunes to be rescheduled for later in 2026, however the promotion did have a possible choice to keep the Brazilian’s comeback intact.

Norma Dumont offered to interchange Harrison and fight the ‘Lioness’ for an interim belt on short notice.

But for the rising contender’s fellow countrywoman, it appears to be Harrison or no person for her return from retirement.

That’s something Dumont sees as an indication of “fear.”

“It was a bit frustrating for me,” Dumont said during a recent interview with MMA Fighting. “First because I accepted the fight on 10 days’ notice and he or she didn’t want it, saying she wanted the undisputed belt.

“It’s frustrating because if she got here back only for Kayla, then I imagine she’ll retire after that fight. I feel like there may be some fear of losing. For instance, I hear a variety of people telling me, ‘You’re going to fight the No. 11, it’s a really dangerous fight.’ Man, only individuals who don’t trust their hands are afraid of risk.

“I don’t care in any respect about who they put in front of me. I do know my work, I do know my level, I do know what I’m going to do,” she continued. “The sensation I get is, ‘I don’t need to fight Norma since it’s a tricky fight. If I lose, I lose the massive fight with Kayla.’

“I get it, it’s business. But to me, it looks like there’s some fear of losing to me. That’s how I see it.”

Dumont has won six fights in a row and climbed to No. 3 in the ladies’s bantamweight rankings.

The one fighters above the Brazilian in the highest 15 are two former champions in Raquel Pennington and Julianna Pena.

She is ready to return at this Saturday’s UFC Vegas 116 event, where she’s going to defend her spot against the No. 11-ranked Joselyne Edwards.