Kayla Harrison is set to fight Amanda Nunes in UFC 324, a matchup highlighted by their past as teammates at American Top Team, though their interactions were minimal, and Nunes left the gym partly due to Harrison’s presence and a desire for change after a loss.
Kayla Harrison is gearing up for the fight of her life against Amanda Nunes at UFC 324. The buzz? They were once teammates at American Top Team.
Their past connection is intriguing, but Mike Brown, Harrison’s coach, downplays it. He recalls their interactions as minimal and friendly.
“They didn’t train much together,” Brown told MMA Fighting. “Always seemed to get along.”
Brown was in Nunes’ corner for several fights. He witnessed her rise after joining ATT post-Cat Zingano loss, but she eventually moved on.
Nunes left ATT after losing to Julianna Pena in 2021. She wanted her own space and reunited with former coaches.
However, Nunes later admitted Harrison’s presence influenced her departure. She felt sharing a gym would be problematic.
“Yes, I did [leave because of Kayla Harrison],” Nunes stated. She foresaw a future clash.
Brown, though, believes Nunes left seeking change after her loss. “She wasn’t happy,” he noted.
Avoiding teammate clashes was essential. Harrison, loyal to ATT, wasn’t leaving to dodge opponents.
Nunes exited before Harrison joined UFC, eliminating potential conflicts. Brown dislikes teammates fighting unless it’s for the top spot.
He still respects Nunes and cherishes his journey with Harrison, who’s been at ATT from the start.
“Kayla’s development here is special,” Brown said, appreciating her growth from day one. Her judo background? A huge asset.
Watching her win at UFC 324 would be the cherry on top.