UFC 269 featured one of the greatest upsets in MMA history. Amanda Nunes submitted to a rear naked choke in the second round, losing her bantamweight title to challenger Julianna Pena. Of course, Nunes is the biggest female star on the UFC’s roster, and Dana White’s number one priority after this is to schedule a rematch.
When asked whether he will be booking the rematch, the UFC president’s answer was simple. “Yes. It’s a big rematch if she wants it.”
Dana White Targeting Nunes vs Pena 2
Pena entered the Octagon a 7-1 underdog. She didn’t simply defeat a champion and earn a title. The contender ended a six-year winning streak. She ended the longest combined title reign in UFC history, defeating a champion who boasts more UFC wins than any other woman.
White declared Pena’s victory one of the greatest MMA moments. “It’s up there with Serra and Georges St-Pierre.
Julianna is a person who always believed in herself and believed that she could win this fight if she got it. You heard it at the press conference, you heard it in the months leading up to this fight, and she did it. She did it tonight. That’s one of the things that makes this sport so incredible.
When somebody’s that big of an underdog… I mean, how many times have we been at these events where, when the fights are over, everybody’s looking at each other like ‘holy sh*t.’ It happens all the time here. It’s literally what makes this sport so incredible.”
The next step for Amanda Nunes at this stage is unclear. The rematch is one obvious priority, but another dream cross-promotional matchup, against Kayla Harrison, may well be on the cards. White confirmed that the UFC are in talks with Harrison, who will likely be feeling optimistic about her own chances after seeing Nunes go down.
“For Kayla Harrison, the Amanda Nunes fight was huge. If they would have faced off, it would have been a massive, mega-million dollar fight. Let me tell you, if Amanda Nunes had won tonight, the Kayla Harrison fight would have been one of the biggest fights that you would have ever seen.”
That may well still go ahead, with Kayla Harrison currently operating as a free agent. For now, the UFC women’s division looks just a little more competitive than it has for a long time.
Are you looking forward to Nunes vs Pena 2? Let us know in the comments.
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