Get ready for a showdown that’s already shaking the MMA world: Amanda Nunes is back, and she’s bringing a secret weapon to reclaim her throne at UFC 324. But here’s where it gets controversial—her weapon of choice? None other than Larissa Pacheco, the only woman to ever defeat Kayla Harrison in MMA. Could this be the game-changer Nunes needs to dethrone the reigning bantamweight queen? Let’s dive in.
Amanda Nunes, widely hailed as the Greatest of All Time (GWOAT) in women’s MMA, is making her highly anticipated comeback after a shock retirement in 2023. Her return at UFC 324 marks the promotion’s first event of 2026 and its new era on Paramount+. In the co-main event, Nunes will face Kayla Harrison, her former American Top Team stablemate, in a battle for the bantamweight title. But this isn’t just any fight—it’s a clash of legends, with Nunes aiming to reclaim the 135-pound gold she once dominated.
And this is the part most people miss: Nunes isn’t just relying on her own legendary skills. She’s enlisted the help of Larissa Pacheco, the Brazilian powerhouse who finally outpointed Harrison in 2022 after two previous losses. Pacheco’s insight into Harrison’s strengths and weaknesses could be the edge Nunes needs. The two have been training together, and Pacheco has boldly predicted that Nunes will walk out of T-Mobile Arena with the title on January 24.
But is Pacheco’s confidence justified? Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist, has been on a winning streak, and many believe she’s unstoppable. Nunes, on the other hand, is returning after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus. Can she truly rise to the occasion? Pacheco seems to think so, stating, ‘She’s ready. I’ve felt Kayla’s energy before, and now I’ve felt Amanda’s. That fight is hers, without a doubt.’
The MMA community is buzzing with reactions. Fighters like Hector Lombard, Amanda Ribas, and Poliana Botelho have shown their support for Nunes’s strategic move, but the debate rages on. Will Nunes’s experience and Pacheco’s insights be enough to overcome Harrison’s dominance? Or will Harrison solidify her own claim to the WMMA GOAT title?
Here’s the burning question: Is Nunes’s partnership with Pacheco a stroke of genius or a risky gamble? And could this fight redefine the legacy of both women? Share your thoughts in the comments—we want to hear your take on this explosive matchup!
