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Targeted for UFC 285 title defense
Nunes is being targeted for her next title defense to take place against Irene Aldana at UFC 285 on March 4, Raphael Marinho of Combate.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Nunes regained her UFC Bantamweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Julianna Pena last July, winning the striking battle and accumulating six takedowns in the process. She'll now turn her focus to Aldana -- a striker by trade who also sports a respectable 81 percent takedown defense (though she was taken down three times in a September victory over Macy Chiasson). Aldana is one of the few bantamweight contenders with a higher striking volume than Nunes, so it may be in the champion's best interest to take this to the mat. She'll rightfully enter as a sizable betting favorite for the proposed matchup.
Nunes regained her UFC Bantamweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Julianna Pena last July, winning the striking battle and accumulating six takedowns in the process. She'll now turn her focus to Aldana -- a striker by trade who also sports a respectable 81 percent takedown defense (though she was taken down three times in a September victory over Macy Chiasson). Aldana is one of the few bantamweight contenders with a higher striking volume than Nunes, so it may be in the champion's best interest to take this to the mat. She'll rightfully enter as a sizable betting favorite for the proposed matchup.
Easily regains UFC gold
Nunes regained the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship on Saturday, defeating Julianna Pena via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-43) at UFC 277 in Dallas.
ANALYSIS
Focused and determined following her shocking loss to Pena in the first fight between the two last December, Nunes took out nearly eight months' worth of frustration on her opponent. Amanda became the first woman in UFC history to score three knockdowns in a single fight and she did it in Round 2 alone. She was considerably more calm and composed than the first bout, not rushing in and taking her time when opportunities presented themselves. With both women exhausted in the championship rounds, Amanda leaned on the takedown. She got Pena to the mat with ease on repeated occasions, but that forced her to survive a deep armbar attempt in Round 4. It seemed like a foolish decision considering how dominant Nunes was on the feet, but then again, this fight would have been over a long, long time ago was it not for the legendary toughness and heart of Pena. Amanda's body language in the first fight was a concern, but she bounced back in a major way here. What's next for the 34-year-old is an open question, but a potential third fight with current UFC Women's Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko has to be high on the list. The demise of Nunes was, predictably, greatly exaggerated.
Focused and determined following her shocking loss to Pena in the first fight between the two last December, Nunes took out nearly eight months' worth of frustration on her opponent. Amanda became the first woman in UFC history to score three knockdowns in a single fight and she did it in Round 2 alone. She was considerably more calm and composed than the first bout, not rushing in and taking her time when opportunities presented themselves. With both women exhausted in the championship rounds, Amanda leaned on the takedown. She got Pena to the mat with ease on repeated occasions, but that forced her to survive a deep armbar attempt in Round 4. It seemed like a foolish decision considering how dominant Nunes was on the feet, but then again, this fight would have been over a long, long time ago was it not for the legendary toughness and heart of Pena. Amanda's body language in the first fight was a concern, but she bounced back in a major way here. What's next for the 34-year-old is an open question, but a potential third fight with current UFC Women's Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko has to be high on the list. The demise of Nunes was, predictably, greatly exaggerated.
Rematching with Pena in Dallas
Nunes (21-5-0) is scheduled to face Julianna Pena (11-4-0) in a bantamweight title fight that will serve as the headliner for UFC 277 on July 30 in Dallas, Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The two agreed to a rematch more than seven months after Pena pulled off a stunning upset of Nunes at UFC 269 on Dec. 11 to claim the welterweight belt. After the fight, Nunes acknowledged she was tending to multiple knee injuries leading up to the matchup, but the seven-month hiatus from competition should have her back to optimal health as she aims to recapture the belt from Pena. The UFC 277 event will feature two title fights, as Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France will also battle for the interim flyweight bout in the co-main event.
The two agreed to a rematch more than seven months after Pena pulled off a stunning upset of Nunes at UFC 269 on Dec. 11 to claim the welterweight belt. After the fight, Nunes acknowledged she was tending to multiple knee injuries leading up to the matchup, but the seven-month hiatus from competition should have her back to optimal health as she aims to recapture the belt from Pena. The UFC 277 event will feature two title fights, as Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France will also battle for the interim flyweight bout in the co-main event.
Drops title in legendary upset
Nunes shockingly lost her UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship on Saturday, falling to Julianna Pena via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:22 of Round 2 at UFC 269 in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
As expected, Nunes handled the defeat with complete class despite being on the wrong end of one of the greatest upsets in the history of the sport. Entering as -1100 favorite, Nunes was in complete control throughout Round 1 before things fell apart in Round 2. Pena turned the fight into a back-and-forth slug fest, clipping Nunes with virtually everything she threw, and Amanda appeared to gas out in a major way. It goes into the books as a submission win for Pena, but the truth of the matter is that Nunes was too tired to properly defend herself, and that essentially led to the stoppage. Amanda had won a dozen fights in a row prior to this defeat. Included in that stretch were victories over Valentina Shevchenko (twice), Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Cris Cyborg and Holly Holm. Nunes' body of work will ensure there is an immediate rematch is forthcoming, so don't be shocked if she's able to regain her 135-pound title at some point in 2022, but there is no way anyone could have ever seen this one coming.
As expected, Nunes handled the defeat with complete class despite being on the wrong end of one of the greatest upsets in the history of the sport. Entering as -1100 favorite, Nunes was in complete control throughout Round 1 before things fell apart in Round 2. Pena turned the fight into a back-and-forth slug fest, clipping Nunes with virtually everything she threw, and Amanda appeared to gas out in a major way. It goes into the books as a submission win for Pena, but the truth of the matter is that Nunes was too tired to properly defend herself, and that essentially led to the stoppage. Amanda had won a dozen fights in a row prior to this defeat. Included in that stretch were victories over Valentina Shevchenko (twice), Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Cris Cyborg and Holly Holm. Nunes' body of work will ensure there is an immediate rematch is forthcoming, so don't be shocked if she's able to regain her 135-pound title at some point in 2022, but there is no way anyone could have ever seen this one coming.
Pena fight rescheduled for UFC 269
Nunes (illness) will defend her bantamweight title against Julianna Pena at UFC 269 on Dec. 11, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
This bout was originally supposed to be back on Aug. 7 at UFC 265, but Nunes had to withdraw after a positive COVID-19 test. Nunes currently holds UFC championships at both 135 and 145 pounds. This will be her first defense of the bantamweight title since December of 2019 when she defeated Germaine de Randamie by unanimous decision.
This bout was originally supposed to be back on Aug. 7 at UFC 265, but Nunes had to withdraw after a positive COVID-19 test. Nunes currently holds UFC championships at both 135 and 145 pounds. This will be her first defense of the bantamweight title since December of 2019 when she defeated Germaine de Randamie by unanimous decision.