Outside Source
Amanda Nunes could return to the Octagon by the end of the year. | Getty/UFC
Amanda Nunes’ Ultimate Fighting Championship return is one step closer to becoming official.
Nunes recently returned to the UFC’s drug testing program, according to online records at ufcantidoping.com. While it is unknown when Nunes reentered the pool, she has submitted a sample to Combat Sports Anti-Doping within the last week.
Could Nunes Be Granted an Exemption for UFC Return?
A former UFC two-division champ, Nunes retired after defending her bantamweight title against Irene Aldana in 2023. However, the women’s MMA GOAT has been teasing a return since Kayla Harrison started making waves in the UFC. And Harrison has seemingly managed to lure Nunes into returning after she defeated Julianna Pena to win the UFC women’s bantamweight title last month. Harrison had a face off with Nunes inside the Octagon after submitting “The Venezuelan Vixen” at UFC 316.
The UFC’s drug testing program requires returning athletes to undergo testing for six months before they can compete. Nunes should be eligible to return at the end of the year or early next year unless the UFC grants her an exemption. Meanwhile, Harrison said that she’s ready to grant “Lioness” an exemption from that testing period for a higher purse.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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