Amanda Nunes Won’t Rule Out UFC Return: 'I Still Feel Like a Champion'

While Amanda Nunes is definitely enjoying her retirement, a return to the Octagon isn’t totally out of the realm of possibility.

The former women’s two-division champion announced her retirement this past June following a victory over Irene Aldana at UFC 289, vacating both of her belts in the process.

Nunes was in attendance at UFC 297 on Saturday as Raquel Pennington earned a decision victory against Mayra Bueno Silva to win the vacant bantamweight strap. While “The Lioness” didn’t feel bad watching a new champ getting crowned, it was certainly a mixture of emotions.

“I was nervous [watching the title fight],” she said on the UFC 297 post-fight show on ESPN+. “I don’t know why, but I was very nervous. It was mixed feelings. I was happy and sad. When I saw ‘Rocky’ with the belt, I was OK. I wasn’t upset or anything like that.

“I think I did the right decision retiring, resting a little bit. Taking care of the babies. Can’t leave Nina [Nunes] with two babies by herself. So I’ve been enjoying it, too. My whole life was fighting related, so I was not really able to enjoy my 20s. My 20s passed like that. I’m 35 now, and now I’m able to go back to Brazil, stay a little bit with my friends and family, and enjoy and see what happens.”

Having started her MMA career back in 2008, Nunes has spent most of her youth in the constant grind that comes with being a professional athlete. With that being said, she isn’t completely ruling out the possibility of a return.

“I don’t know — we never know. I’m a fighter and this is my job,” she said. “I love this so much, and I don’t know. I enjoy as well not being in the gym everyday and having a normal life, stay home a little bit and be lazy. I [can’t be] lazy as a fighter, it’s very hard.”

“But I’m still healthy and powerful, smart, think like a champion. I still feel like a champion, so we’ll see.”