UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes may well be nearing the end of her illustrious career. She even considered retirement before her latest outing, but refused to go out with Julianna Pena holding the belt.
Now, set to return for a title defense at UFC 289, “The Lioness” revealed at the UFC 289 media day how close she came to calling curtains when Pena broke her twelve-fight, six-year unbeaten streak.
Amanda Nunes Could Never Retire With Julianna Pena As UFC Champ
“I decided to not retire, because if I retire, I leave my belt with Julianna. No way. No way. It can be with somebody else, but with Julianna, no.”
After the upset submission loss to Pena – who was a 7-to-1 underdog leading up to the fight – in 2021, Nunes knew that she had a point to prove.
“I know I could kick her ass any time I want. She was supposed to win that day, I was supposed to make the mistakes that I made to fight without being in great shape, and I paid for it, and I’m never going to do that again. Ever, ever, ever.
I was confused a little bit, but I got my foot in the floor, I got home, and everything was ready to go. My mindset was ready to get the belt back and never lose again.” In the rematch, Nunes proved her point, earning a thoroughly one-sided decision victory over the course of five rounds.
“She’s not that good. That was harder to swallow. She’s crazy. She goes forward and punches, and just being tough, and she has the belt. She can get hit. No. No way. I knew I’m going to go back there and get that belt again. The second fight, I knew I’m getting my belt back, and I did it.”
As for whether there will be a trilogy, Nunes remains unbothered by the prospect of facing Julianna Pena again. “I’ll fight her again after this, no problem at all. She makes me better. This is MMA. If she sticks with her style, I’m sorry, you’re going to be gone soon.
I’m evolving all the time. Yeah, I can strike. I can wrestle you. My wrestling is better than yours. My ground is better than yours. If you attack anything, I can defend. I’m stronger. So I’m better than you everywhere. You’re gone.”
If these remarks are any indication, we may well see the last of Amanda Nunes this Saturday night at UFC 289.
