You could maybe just sum it up to Brazilian solidarity. Or perhaps there’s a lingering rivalry. Either way, Larissa Pacheco, the only woman to defeat Kayla Harrison in mixed martial arts, has offered to help train Amanda Nunes for the pair’s upcoming super-fight.
While no date has been set, Harrison vs. Nunes is next for the UFC women’s bantamweight division. The pair faced off in the cage following Harrison’s win over Julianna Pena to capture the 135lb title at UFC 316 last month. “The Lioness,” considered by most to be the women’s MMA GOAT, is coming out of retirement for the fight.
That means time will be needed for fight camp, and as for training partners, it appears Pacheco has volunteered. The two are both natives of Brazil, though Nunes lives and trains in Florida. Pacheco went 1-2 in her career series with Harrison, winning their third and final fight under the PFL banner in a shock upset. All three of the pair’s fights went the distance.
“That’s true, we’ve been talking for [a while], and she [Pacheco] already made herself available to help me,” Nunes said in an interview with journalist Diego Ribas at the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony (h/t Sherdog). “She already faced Kayla three times, so obviously she will help a lot if she really comes to Florida.”
Nunes also opened up in that same interview about her motivation for returning to the sport, where she held gold at both bantamweight and featherweight in the UFC.
“I love this sport, I was born for it. I’m an athlete, I’m a fighter. I decided because I really still have a lot. And when I was at home at one point, I felt like fighting again, you know?” explained Nunes. “Not for nothing, not to face the gym, not to face coaches, not because I need the money, it’s none of that. For the will to fight. I’m a fighter, you know? I like to fight, I like to challenge myself all the time. And that’s why. I love the UFC, I love being here, I love fighting. I don’t have any injuries, I don’t have anything.”
Nunes confirmed that she’s signed a multi-fight contact, not just a one off to face Harrison, but added “let’s see how it goes.”
