UFC 300 winner Kayla Harrison would welcome Amanda Nunes back 'with open arms'

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LAS VEGAS – Kayla Harrison would love to fight Amanda Nunes.

Harrison (17-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) impressed in her octagon debut Saturday when she ran through former bantamweight champion Holly Holm (15-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC) for a second-round submission at UFC 300.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka and two-time PFL season champion was happy with her performance, and plans on having UFC gold wrapped around her waist by the end of 2024.

“The goal was to go out and make a statement and be so good that that’s what’s next,” Harrison told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the UFC 300 post-fight press conference. “I want to be UFC champion by the end of the year, so I hope that I did enough tonight to do that. I hope that I impressed the bosses and the matchmakers, so we’ll see.”

Nunes, who relinquished her bantamweight title after retiring in June 2023, posted a video reacting to Harrison’s post-fight octagon interview. She appeared disappointed that Harrison didn’t call her out.

“Listen, I didn’t call Amanda’s name because Amanda’s not UFC champion,” Harrison said. “She retired, I thought she was happily retired. I would love to win a UFC title, and if Amanda wants to come back, I welcome her with open arms.”

Nunes wasn’t the only one who had her eyes on Harrison. Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg said she’d like the winner of a potential Harrison vs. Nunes fight.

“I’d be down for that too,” Harrison said of Cyborg’s callout. “There’s not much I wouldn’t be down for right now, I really want to win a UFC title but after that, I’m game for whatever.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.