UFC president Dana White did not want to see his two-division women’s champion go. Amanda Nunes, reigning champion of the women’s featherweight and bantamweight divisions, announced her retirement from mixed martial arts at UFC 289 this past Saturday. After Nunes left her gloves in the Octagon, White discussed the matter at the post-fight press conference.
White compared it to the sadness he felt when his old friend and business partner, Lorenzo Fertitta, sold his part of the UFC and left the business of combat sports behind him.
UFC President Did NOT Want Amanda Nunes To Retire
“I’ve got to take it the same way I took Lorenzo [Fertitta] retiring. No, I wasn’t happy when Lorenzo retired either, but he said ‘You know what? This is what I want. Be happy for me.’ So this must be what Amanda wants, so I’m definitely happy for her.
Would I like to see her stick around and do some more? Absolutely, I love the kid. She’s been incredible to work with. She’s such a good human being and an incredible champion.
Obviously, the greatest female fighter of all-time. I’d love to keep her around. But if she’s ready to go, then you’ve got to be happy for her.”
Nunes’ retirement was hardly a surprise. In the lead-up to the fight, Nunes revealed that she had considered retirement after losing her belt to Julianna Peña back in 2021. Ultimately, “The Lioness” recaptured UFC gold from Peña, and defended the bantamweight belt against Irene Aldana this weekend.
Perhaps that’s why Dana White wasn’t shocked to see arguably the greatest female combat athlete to walk the earth call curtains on her career.
“I’m not shocked that she retired. I’ve been saying for a while, she made a lot of money and her life is a lot different than it was 10 years ago.
I kind of felt this [coming]. She made a very good living. She’s got a lot of money. She’s going to be good. She looked great and came out and performed, but I think it’s all the things before you get here tonight that you have to go through and you have to do that has made her decide to retire, in my opinion.”
White sang Nunes’ praises, waxing lyrical about her “amazing performance” in her final headline event. “She looked incredible.
Amazing performance, completely shut her down. I think one of the guys was telling me tonight, it was the most punches landed or something like that. She broke two records tonight. That was the most punches she’s ever landed and I think she passed Sara McMann tonight for takedowns, so more records for her.”
