“She’s Doing the Retirement for Attention” – Julianna Pena Reignites Rivalry With Amanda Nunes After UFC GOAT Teases a Comeback Plan

Julianna Pena has made a bold statement about Amanda Nunes and her retirement from MMA! Pena first faced Nunes at UFC 269 where she pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. Coming into the fight as a massive underdog, Pena submitted Nunes in the 2nd round to secure the title in stunning fashion! She later lost the title via unanimous decision at their rematch at UFC 277, but the friction between the pair has continued even as Nunes has stepped away from competition!

However, at the recent UFC 297 event, Nunes made some interesting remarks in an interview with Megan Olivi prompting Pena to slam her for comments. According to Pena, Nunes’s retirement was an elaborate tactic to draw more eyes to the possible comeback to the Octagon!  

Julianna Pena fires a salvo at Amanda Nunes

In her recent interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Julianna Pena expressed her frustration, mentioning how she booed Amanda Nunes at her last fight for announcing her retirement when there was a potential historic trilogy fight between them! Pena revealed, “I was booing because she was going into retirement and I was like don’t go into retirement, we have literally the biggest fight in women’s history, trilogy, never been done before, what are you doing saying you’re gonna retire?”

The fighter also criticized Nunes and accused her of seeking attention through retirement. She claimed that she had been encouraging Nunes to return, emphasizing the business benefits.

Pena stated, “I’ve been trying to coax her into coming back this entire time so it’s absolutely beautiful for everyone. And I knew that she wasn’t going to be able to stay away so just, so I was like she’s doing the retirement for attention”

Pena’s remarks shed light on the strained relationship between the two fighters. The narrative of attention-seeking retirement also adds a layer of drama to the ongoing saga between the two fighters. Pena’s criticism is rooted in the belief that Nunes’ retirement was a strategic move rather than a genuine decision, designed to generate buzz and anticipation for a potential comeback.

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Her latest comments may lead to an intense build-up for another clash between the pair as Amanda Nunes recently revealed there may be a possibility of her returning to the cage!

‘The Lioness’ may be coming back to claim her throne 

Former two-division UFC champion Amanda Nunes’ retirement may not last much longer! Nunes, known as the “Lioness,” retired after a successful title defense against Irene Aldana, in June 2023. And so, the recently concluded UFC 297 event in Toronto marked the official start of the post-Nunes era, with Raquel Pennington claiming the vacant bantamweight title.

In a backstage interview at UFC 297 with Megan Olivi, Nunes hinted at a potential comeback while acknowledging the rightness of her retirement decision. She stated, “I’m still young, fresh. We never know (what could happen). We have a lot of things to do. I’ve got to figure out a bunch of things at home still, what I’m going to do and see what happens”

Although Nunes did not make a firm declaration about a comeback, her openness to the idea has intrigued fans and the MMA community. The uncertainty surrounding her future adds an element of anticipation, and followers will be keen to see if the “Lioness” will indeed make a return to the UFC, continuing her legacy in the sport!

Do you think Julianna Pena is right in her assessment of Nunes’ retirement being a tactic for attention? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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