Amanda Nunes Will Be Ready For Valentina Shevchenko

In an interview with MMA Junkie, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes (14-4 MMA, 7-1 UFC) said that even though she’s enjoying her break, she’ll be ready to defend against Valentina Shevchenko (14-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) if the fight is made. Here are highlights:

On enjoying her time away: “This is a huge moment for my career,” Nunes said. “I want to share it with my family, with the people who helped me to get here in this moment. When I come back to USA, I will sit down with the UFC and discuss my next step.”

On needing a vacation: “Definitely not. I’m on vacation right now … I’m not just going to come back and fight because Valentina wants. It’s not like that. I have my time to enjoy and be with my family, like she has, as well. … This is a moment I want to rest a little bit. Last year I fought three times, and this year I want to take a little rest and come back in the middle of the year. If it’s going to be Valentina, I don’t have any problem. I will be ready for her. I don’t think she knows how excited I’ll be to come back. But I really respect my body right now, and I’m taking some days off.”