Amanda Nunes 'Expected' to Fight Kayla Harrison After Entering UFC Anti-Doping Program

UFC Hall of Famer Amanda Nunes is officially on the road to returning to the Octagon for what could be the biggest women's fight in MMA history.

Per Damon Martin of MMA Fighting, Nunes officially re-entered the UFC’s anti-doping program for the first time since her retirement in 2023, and she's "expected" to face UFC bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison in her first fight back.

Retired fighters are required to undergo at least six months of drug testing before being allowed to compete again. While it's not known when exactly Nunes re-entered the testing pool because fighters are randomly tested, having a sample submitted clears a major hurdle for her eventual return.

Nunes declared her intentions to make a comeback after Harrison defeated Julianna Pena at UFC 316 in June for the 135-pound title. The former two-division champion has a long history with Harrison dating back to their time training together at American Top Team. They had a staredown in the Octagon after Harrison's victory last month.

There's a chance that Nunes can receive clearance by December or January for her fight against Harrison, but UFC CEO Dana White indicated that he would be open to granting an exemption to ensure that she's able to return this year.

"Hm, I don’t know. We’ll definitely look into it," White said during the UFC 318 post-fight press conference. "I don’t hate it."