Has the Octagon’s call become too much to ignore for Amanda Nunes? The former women’s featherweight champion and two-time women’s bantamweight champion had walked away from the sport after UFC 289 in 2023. With the win over Irene Aldana in her last fight, ‘The Lioness’ had also vacated the bantamweight title.

But could we be seeing her return to the cage soon? Nunes recently took to social media with a message that’s left the MMA sphere buzzing with excitement. The retired champ posted a playful video on social media, singing along to “Outdoor” by the Brazilian samba group Só Pra Contrariar. But there was a twist. Nunes changed the lyrics to send a cheeky message to UFC CEO Dana White, saying, “Call me, please.”

Could this be her way of signaling she’s ready for another shot at glory? After all, when Nunes retired in June 2023 following her win over Aldana, she walked away on top. With 14 victories in her last 15 fights, she left a legacy that few can match.

But there’s one thing that might be drawing her back, the only blemish on her record in that stretch, Julianna Pena. Pena shocked the world when she took the bantamweight belt from Nunes at UFC 269 in 2021. Though Nunes avenged that loss in their rematch at UFC 277, the score still feels unsettled for some. Here’s a look at what the fans had to say about the prospect of ‘The Lioness’ returning to the cage!

Fans left in a frenzy as Amanda Nunes teases her return on social media with a cheeky message   

Some fans jokingly took jabs at Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena’s third clash as they claimed that it would be a hilarious sight if the ‘Lioness’ returned just to take the belt away from Pena. At UFC 307, Pena took the 135 lbs. title from Raquel Pennington via a split decision but is still seeking the trilogy fight against the Brazilian. In an interview with MMA Junkie before UFC 307, Pena stated, “But my goal will be to get Amanda to get back inside the octagon with me, and that will be the biggest women’s fight in UFC history.”

“Nunes should come back just to take the belt from Pena and vacate it again for sh–s n giggles”

Other fans claimed that Nunes’s time away from the sport was just a way for her to give other fighters in the division a way to secure the belt in her absence. With five successful title defenses of the bantamweight crown in her first reign and one defense in her second reign, it’s a sign that as long as ‘The Lioness’ is in the title picture, it’s her division and no one else’s!

“she was kind enough to allow others to have the belt”

Now, with Pena holding the title again, fans have also been curious to know if this will be the catalyst that finally brings the former champion back to claim her throne. After all, the two are 1-1 in the UFC so far. What do you think?

“A Lioness return…??”

But there may be another hurdle standing in the way in the form of Kayla Harrison. The 2-time Olympic gold medalist and former PFL star is coming off a unanimous decision win over Ketlen Viera at UFC 307. So, could the UFC and Dana White find this matchup more intriguing than a trilogy against Pena? Only time will tell.

“It’s going to be against Kayla not Peña”

However, not all the fans were on board with the idea of Amanda Nunes returning to the sport with their issue being the word “retired”. In the past, several other fighters have chosen to come back to the sport after stepping away from it. For example, in 2022, Jose Aldo had announced his retirement from MMA but came back in 2024 and recently took on Mario Bautista at UFC 307.

“The word retired should mean retired”¦. If you are gonna take few years off then called.. stepping out and will be back. Just saying”

In conclusion, with a lot of fans clamoring for her return and Julianna Pena ready for the trilogy, the UFC women’s bantamweight division feels like it’s holding its breath with Amanda Nunes’ latest message. But let’s not forget Kayla Harrison looming as a potential blockbuster opponent, adding another layer to the drama! Could we see ‘The Lioness’ come back and claim her throne once again? Who do you think is a better fight for her return, Pena or Harrison? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!