- Ali Abdelaziz attributed Amanda Nunes’ retirement to Kayla Harrison’s arrival in the UFC
- The Dominance MMA boss urges “Lioness” to return and take on Harrison
Ali Abdelaziz didn’t hold back from claiming Amanda Nunez was forced to retire because she knew Kayla Harrison would dominate her.
Kayla prompted Amanda to retire
Speaking to Submission Radio, Abdelaziz, who is also Harrison’s manager, said Nunes met her “biggest nightmare” in Kayla. Through Abdelaziz’s lens, “Lioness” realized Harrison was superior to her and it ultimately led to the Brazilian’s retirement.
“Amanda Nunes did everything,” Abdelaziz said. “She retired because Kayla was coming to the UFC, No. 1. She left ATT [American Top Team] because Kayla was training there, right? She turned on the people who really helped her… because Kayla was getting more attention.
“She knew they were going to have to fight. Amanda Nunes, her biggest nightmare in here, it was Kayla, and this is why she retired,” he added.
Amanda should return to face Kayla
Abdelaziz added that Nunes and Harrison used to train with each other at ATT. However, Ali could tell that “Lioness” realized early on that the former longtime PFL champ was coming to the UFC to dethrone her.
For Abdelaziz, it would be really difficult for Nunes to accept that Harrison is way better than her. However, Ali suggests that Nunes should consider returning and facing Kayla once and for all.
“She has a lot of pride in her. She retired because of Kayla Harrison, and now she said she wants to come back. I don’t think she ever comes back. But if she comes back, that’ll be amazing,” Abdelaziz said.
“She trained a couple of times (with Harrison),” he revealed. “And whatever happened in the training room happened, and she never wants to train with Kayla again. She never wants to spar with Kayla again. She starts training by herself, away from the team every time Kayla comes to the gym. She left. And ATT really created who she is, and she turned on them because she thought, ‘Kayla’s coming.’ And you know what? She was coming. She was right. Kayla was coming. But she was the champion. She was jewel of the gym. Her insecurity and uncertain about beating Kayla allowed her to leave the gym… I think Amanda, she missed attention, and I think enough pressure from me… and all the media talking about it, it might tickle her ego a little bit and for her to come back. But it doesn’t matter if she wants to come back. She can come back. She’s going to take this loss (to Harrison) and go back to retirement.”
As it stands, Harrison is coming off a spectacular UFC debut, having submitted Holly Holm at UFC 300. Unsurprisingly, Harrison didn’t call out Nunes as she is more focused on the current fighters, specifically the bantamweight title holder.
Watch Abdelaziz’s full interview below:
