MMA News

Tag: Amanda Nunes

  • Amanda Nunes Reveals What Moment Changed The Fight At UFC 269

    Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes has revealed what moment allowed Julianna Peña to take over in the UFC 269 co-main event.

    2022 is representing a fresh challenge for Nunes. For the first time since 2015, she’s entered the new year off the back of a defeat. While she was coming off a loss to then-fellow contender Cat Zingano seven years ago, this time around she’s looking to rebound after having one of two belts she held last year snatched from her grasp.

    After extending her two-division rule with a dominant first-round submission over Megan Anderson last March, Nunes was tasked with returning to 135 pounds to defend her bantamweight strap for the first time since 2019. In her way of completing another year with champ-champ status and extending her win streak to 13 was Peña.

    While most expected “The Venzuelan Vixen” to represent a small hurdle for the “Lioness,” she turned out to be a 10-foot wall that stood firm in the face of the consensus female GOAT.

    After surviving the opening round, Peña turned the intensity up in the second. When she appeared to tire and hurt Nunes on the feet, the UFC’s first female TUF winner dragged the Brazilian to the ground and submitted her.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXXt7GrMyUi/

    Nunes: Peña Was The First Opponent To Catch Me On The Feet

    Two months removed since the memorable upset, which many have branded the most shocking in UFC history, Nunes has provided some context behind her performance.

    While many branded her loss as a display of quit, the reigning featherweight queen has suggested she was carrying a number of injuries into the contest that were serious enough for a doctor to recommend her withdrawal. With those issues contributing to what she described as a “mess” of a camp, Nunes believes she simply wasn’t prepared enough.

    But despite citing those struggles as reasons behind her setback, Nunes also gave credit to the newly crowned bantamweight titleholder. During a media scrum earlier this month, the 33-year-old pinpointed one punch early in round two as the turning point in the contest.

    “I got caught in the beginning of the second round. I don’t know if it was a jump-in, overhand, I don’t know what the move was. But for me, it looked like a jump overhand. It got me right here [points to behind left ear],” said Nunes. “It’s like, that was the end. I was not able to recover after that. I told Nina (Nunes) like, I felt dizzy, because I never got caught before. If you’re asking me how getting caught feels, I never would’ve answered because I never got caught before. So when I got caught, I lost everything; I lost my balance, my visual was a little bit blurry, too, and from that moment, everything went downhill.

    “When I got on the floor, I was already done,” Nunes continued. “From watching the fight, and how everything was played in my head after I got caught, yeah. Everybody say I was tired and everything, okay, (they) look at me and say, ‘Your timing was off;” yeah, I didn’t train well for the fight. Of course, you think I showed up 100%? But I did get caught. She really connected a good one and I wasn’t able to recover.”

    Having apparently become the first woman to really catch Nunes and badly wobble her in the striking realm, Peña will look to repeat the feat when she puts her gold on the line in a rematch against the Brazilian later this year.

    Before that, though, the pair are set to exchange words and interact on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter, where the two rivals will serve as coaches.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZkxe7fPyiM/

    Who do you think will win the rematch, Amanda Nunes or Julianna Peña?

  • Julianna Peña Disputes Amanda Nunes’ “I’m Better” Claim: “Where At?”

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña has questioned which areas Amanda Nunes believes she has the edge over her in.

    At UFC 269, the final pay-per-view event of 2021, Nunes’ seemingly unstoppable two-division rule was brought to a crashing halt. Having remained unbeaten since 2014, had her hand raised in 12 consecutive Octagon outings, and won gold at both 135 and 145 pounds, the “Lioness” was expected by most to breeze past her final challenge of last year.

    Embracing the underdog role, Peña exuded immense confidence throughout fight week. Those who branded it as delusion were left with egg on their faces come fight night when “The Venezuelan Vixen” shocked the world with a second-round submission.

    While she handled the loss graciously inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, Nunes recently provided some context behind her loss, suggesting she’d entered the fight with injuries and off the back of a rough camp.

    With that in mind, the reigning featherweight titleholder has vowed to prove she’s better than Peña when they meet for the second time later this year.

    “Honestly, of course, the belt is something that all of us chase,” Nunes said in an interview with ESPN. “At this point in my life, I just want to show up 100 percent how I want to be. So with the belt, without the belt, I just want to really, really prove I’m better than her.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

    It’s safe to say “The Venezuelan Vixen” disagrees with that assessment.

    Peña: Nunes Got To See All My Strengths At UFC 269

    During her own interview with ESPN, Peña responded to her rival’s claims. The newly-crowned champ said Nunes felt all aspects of her well-rounded game at UFC 269, and with that in mind, questioned where the Brazilian could possibly expect to have an edge.

    “I think she got to see it all. We sparred on the feet, we grappled, you know, she was in dangerous positions when we were grappling,” said Peña. “She says that she wants to prove that she’s absolutely 100% better than me, but I’m like, ‘Where?’ We can grapple right here, right now if you want and I’ll show you that.

    “You wanna box? We can do that, too. I’ll show you that, too. So this, ‘I can’t wait to show how much better that I am than her,’ where at? Where do you think that? I don’t think that, I don’t agree with that,” added Peña. “The beauty of fighting is we’re gonna go find out and we’re gonna get to do it all over again.”

    Like Peña says, we’ll soon find out who is right. After a stint coaching this year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter, the pair are set to run it back.

    While “The Venezuelan Vixen” will be hoping to record her first successful defense and firmly establish her superiority over the consensus female MMA GOAT, the “Lioness” will be out for redemption.

    Do you agree with Julianna Peña? Is she better than Amanda Nunes in all areas?

  • Joanna Jędrzejczyk Convinced Ex-Teammate Nunes Will Regain BW Title

    Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk thinks her former teammate Amanda Nunes won’t be a title challenger for long.

    Nunes is without a second belt for the first time in a long time after losing to Julianna Peña at UFC 269. She still holds the women’s featherweight title, but it’s unclear if and when she’ll defend it this year.

    Nunes and Peña will square off in an immediate rematch later this year after facing off as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter.

    One storyline that has been building with Nunes has been her recent departure from her longtime gym American Top Team. She recently opted to leave the team to focus on a private setting for her to train.

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, Jędrzejczyk was asked about Nunes’ chances in a rematch with Pena and if her departure from ATT may have anything to do with the result.

    “I’m not looking (to make the story deeper than it is). And that’s it,” Jędrzejczyk said. “I made a similar decision a few years ago when I came (to American Top Team). It was her choice. She’s the champion, champion in two different divisions—in one now, but I really believe in her that she will be back to holding two belts in two different weight classes because she’s a beast.”

    When asked to elaborate on Nunes’ decision to leave ATT, Jędrzejczyk expressed empathy and understanding behind Nunes’ decision-making process.

    “And it was her choice. This level, you have to do what’s right for you and how you feel. And it’s not only about getting the best partners (and) training (in) the best facility. But it’s all about getting the good vibe and keep the balance. Because the mental preparation is as much important as the physical or even more important.”

    Nunes will have the opportunity to get her belt back later this year in a rematch against Peña. As for Jędrzejczyk, she’s in a similar position as her former teammate as she works to return to the Octagon in 2022.

    Do you think Amanda Nunes will get her bantamweight title back?

  • Amanda Nunes: Losing The Belt Has Brought My Fire Back

    Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and reigning featherweight titleholder Amanda Nunes says losing the 135-pound belt to Julianna Peña has brought her “fire” back.

    At UFC 269 in December, Nunes saw her 12-fight win streak and three-year two-division rule collapse at the hands of an unlikely character. Like many before her, Peña’s chances of dethroning the “Lioness’ were dismissed and her confidence branded delusional.

    But writing the story completely different to most fans and pundits expected, “The Venezuelan Vixen” created a chapter of UFC history that will long be remembered. In the second round of their co-main event clash, Peña rocked Nunes on the feet before dragging her down and submitting her.

    For the T-Mobile Arena crowd and the millions watching at home, the sound of “And New” was about as surprising a moment as any since the promotion’s inception.

    Nunes “Can’t Wait” To Start Over

    While Nunes would be forgiven for being distraught and disheartened after suffering her first setback since 2014, the Brazilian has remained as positive as ever.

    After a gracious post-fight interview, she promised to come back strong. If the featherweight champ’s recent comments are to be believed, her return this year will signify the arrival of a Nunes who is hungrier than ever.

    During a recent media scrum, the consensus female MMA GOAT suggested losing the bantamweight gold and now having something to “chase” has brought her fire back.

    “Honestly, after I lose that belt, the fire is like, built up again,” said Nunes. “I’m telling you, damn, I can’t wait to start over. I have something to chase. It’s not like, ‘Oh my god, I lost my belt,’ and staying home crying. That’s never gonna happen with me. Actually, UFC changed my life. How I’m living, whatever happens right now is like, amazing. UFC changed, literally, my life. I don’t have time to be sad.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZsPA1hPwsh/

    With her fire back and her physical condition hopefully at 100%, Nunes will get her chance for redemption later this year. After coaching this year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter, Peña and Nunes will run it back, with the status of bantamweight queen on the line.

    Do you think Amanda Nunes will reclaim the bantamweight gold from Julianna Peña in their rematch?

  • Peña Understands How ATT Drama Could Lead to Nunes’ Exit

    Julianna Peña can see where Amanda Nunes is coming from leaving ATT.

    Julianna Peña has a rematch set with Amanda Nunes. Leading up to the next fight these two will be spending a lot of time together. They will be coaching the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter, and that calls for six weeks of close encounters between them. There was some bad blood leading up to the first fight, and now coming into the second, Peña is siding with Nunes on one issue.

    Recently, Nunes decided to take some time away from her longtime gym, ATT. She cited wanting to branch out on her own and do her own thing as her reason. ATT has been in the news for another reason as well. Former ATT athlete Colby Covington will be fighting current ATT fighter and former training partner Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272.

    ATT owner Dan Lambert has recently stated that the fallout between Covington and Masvidal was so toxic that at one point both fighters had to be removed from the gym. This, along with other recent incidents, makes it easy for Peña to understand why Nunes would want out.

    “I absolutely do believe that. It’s probably because she’s felt this way for a long time. She’s at a one-stop-shop at American Top Team; a McDonald’s, cookie-cutter type gym, where they’re just throwing these guys in and out, and in and out, and everyone trains with everyone,” Peña said during a recent media scrum.

    “You’ve got Jorge Masvidal used to be friends with Colby Covington, used to be friends with Dustin Poirier, now they all hate each other, but they still gotta train in the same gym. It’s awkward. It’s, ‘Do I trust these people? Do they have my best interests? Are they telling people about me? Are they watching what I’m doing like a hawk and then this information’s gonna get leaked out?’”

    Peña Believes Kayla Harrison May Have Played Role In Exit

    Amanda Nunes, Kayla Harrison

    Nunes is maintaining that she is still holding a good relationship with the team. But Peña looking in from the outside can see many flags, including another former teammate who has expressed interest in fighting Nunes: Kayla Harrison.

    “It’s a whole lot of paranoia. It’s a lot of people making sure they have your best interests. So, I feel – I don’t know exactly what happened—but I feel like that’s definitely some part of why she feels like she needs to leave,” Peña said. “Especially with them saying, ‘Oh, Kayla Harrison’s the team captain, how do you feel about that?’ … ‘But now Kayla Harrison is my training partner, but now Kayla Harrison wants to fight me for a mega-million-dollar fight.’ It’s like, who is really your friend here? You can’t trust anyone in that gym. I anticipate if she said this was a long time coming, I believe that I really do.”

    In the lead-up to the first bout with Peña, Nunes said she had a bad training camp. She said she suffered injuries in the weeks before the fight. Now with a new training gym and time to heal, she is expecting a different outcome.

    Do you think Nunes’ departure from ATT will helo her in the rematch with Peña?

  • Kayla Harrison Admits Amanda Nunes’ ATT Departure “Sucks”

    Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison has given her thoughts on the departure of consensus female MMA GOAT Amanda Nunes from the American Top Team gym.

    At the start of 2022, Nunes made wholesale changes to her team, preparation, and future camps. With the goal of opening her own personal training space, the former two-division titleholder left ATT and longtime head coach Mike Brown.

    The move came after she fell to her first defeat in 13 fights and since a 2014 setback to Cat Zingano. The woman who’s appeared to make Nunes re-think her strategy and situation is Julianna Peña. At UFC 269 in December, “The Venezuelan Vixen” achieved what most believed to be virtually impossible: dethroning the “Lioness.”

    Joining a shocked sold-out crowd and fighters’ area inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, as well as millions watching at home, in disbelief was Harrison.

    While the likes of Michael Chiesa and Miesha Tate celebrated, Harrison was left with one word on her lips: “F*ck.”

    In a recent interview with ESPN MMA, Harrison discussed the feelings she went through after watching her teammate, who she’d helped prepare for the title defense, emphatically submitted in the UFC 269 co-main event.

    “I was shocked. Everyone was making assumptions about it, but to be honest with you, Amanda was a teammate of mine, she was someone that I helped train for this fight,” said Harrison. “When I said I bleed ATT, I meant it. I wanted her to win. I was shocked. I was as shocked as the rest of the world. I was heartbroken for her.”

    The two-time Olympic gold medalist and unbeaten MMA lightweight continues to bleed ATT and assured Nunes after the shock result that they’d go back to work in the gym and make things right.

    But with the Brazilian seeking fresh pastures, Harrison’s time going toe-to-toe with Nunes on the mats is over, something she says “sucks.”

    Harrison: I Got A Lot Better Training With Nunes

    Further into her interview with Marc Raimondi, Harrison gave her reaction to Nunes’ decision to part ways with ATT, the gym she’d been a part of throughout her development from defeat to Zingano in 2014 to dominant double champion in 2021.

    First and foremost, the sport’s most sought-after free agent wished her former teammate well for the future and suggested the Brazilian had to do whatever she felt was best for her and her family.

    “At this time, my thoughts (on her departure) are, you’ve gotta do what you think is best for you and your family. I wish her the best of luck. That’s it.”

    Despite understanding the reasons behind Nunes’ exit, Harrison admitted she was disappointed to no longer have the chance to develop and sharpen her tools by training alongside a woman most regard as the greatest of all time.

    “I mean, it sucks cause like, she’s still one of the best. That one loss doesn’t change that,” Harrison continued. “So to not be able to train with her does suck. I think that every time I went with her, it helped me. I think it helped her as well.

    “Whether you wanna admit or not, guys talk about Colby (Covington) and Jorge (Masvidal), the ego, I have it too, so I wanna win those exchanges, I wanna win those rounds, I wanna push her, she wants to push me. I got a lot better in the times that we trained together. So to miss out on that is a bummer, for sure,” concluded Harrison.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CX36ML5lINh/

    While Nunes focuses on a stint coaching this year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter ahead of her rematch with Peña, Harrison’s future is still unclear.

    While most expected the undefeated star to be a future challenge for Nunes after UFC 269, the Brazilian’s defeat has perhaps delayed any chance of that and slightly hampered its appeal.

    Nevertheless, with Nunes still holding 145-pound gold and a move to the UFC seeming inevitable sooner or later for Harrison, perhaps sooner given the apparent breakdown in negotiations with the PFL, it appears likely another clash of former ATT teammates is going to go down in the future.

    Would you like to see former teammates Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes share the Octagon down the line?

  • ATT Owner Dan Lambert Supportive Of Amanda Nunes Leaving

    Amanda Nunes is changing up her training gym and is getting a nice farewell from American Top Team owner Dan Lambert.

    Amanda Nunes is coming off her first loss in several years. She lost her bantamweight belt to Juliana Peña in December and is now ready to make some changes. A lot has been said of Nunes’ training camp leading up to the loss, injuries, and difficulties all around. Following the loss, Nunes decided to leave her longtime gym ATT in Florida and is hoping to start her own fight team.

    The news of her leaving the gym that she spent so many years being a part of was shocking to most fans. The gym is home to many high-caliber fighters and one of the most notorious gyms in the country. The owner of ATT Dan Lambert spoke to MMA Junkie about Nunes’ decision to leave.

    “Hey, we have 100 fighters at our gym. You’re gonna have people from all levels. We’ve got fighters that are champions down to fighters that are newcomers in our developmental programs,” Lambert explained. “And we want people at our gym that want to be at our gym. And as long as it’s a good fit for us and it’s a good fit for the fighter, we do great things together if we can. And when it’s no longer a great fit for us or them and somebody’s gotta move on, we have an open-door policy.”

    Nunes’ departure is not an all-or-nothing thing. She has mentioned that she will still visit ATT when she sees a fit. For her, the idea of having her own space to train is important. Nunes recently became a mother with her partner, fellow UFC fighter Nina Nunes, and they will be training at the new space together.

    “If someone doesn’t want to be at the gym, they’re not gonna be at the gym,” Lambert said. “Amanda decided she wants to start her own place and be a coach, maybe set something up for her post-fighting career? I support that, and I hope she does well.”

    Nunes will be utilizing this new training facility for her next bout that is already set. She will be fighting Peña again in an immediate rematch following coaching on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter.

    Do you think Amanda Nunes leaving ATT is a good idea or not?

  • Amanda Nunes Shares More Details Behind Decision To Leave ATT

    UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion Amanda Nunes has further explained her decision to part ways with the American Top Team gym.

    Before December 2021, it was perhaps difficult to imagine Nunes, the then-two-division champion, being in a position to make changes to her preparation outside the Octagon in order to rebound from a crushing loss.

    The woman who made that unlikely scenario a reality was Julianna Peña.

    At UFC 269, the final pay-per-view of last year, “The Venezuelan Vixen” defied the odds to end Nunes’ 12-fight win streak, hand the Brazilian her first taste of defeat since 2014, and take home the bantamweight gold.

    Following the result, which was branded by many as the greatest upset in UFC history, it was revealed that Nunes had decided to leave the renowned American Top Team gym, which had been her training home since 2014 and for the duration of her remarkable reign over both the 145 and 135-pound weight classes.

    During a media scrum earlier this month, Nunes explained her departure, which came as a surprise to many given the immense success she achieved at the Coconut Creek, Florida-based facility.

    The “Lioness” revealed that, regardless of her recent setback, opening her own private training space was always the target.

    “I always wanted to open a private spot, you know. I never said I’m gonna open a gym to compete against (ATT), that never came out my mouth,” said Nunes. “But I’ve always wanted to have like, a private space for me. Because, even at American Top Team, I always did my thing separately. I had my time to go and have the coach there waiting for me to help me with my camp. So, it was always like that.

    “It was always in my head that one day, I want to have (my own) space,” added Nunes. “I wanna see all my victories on the wall, putting my logo (up). Honestly, I feel like a lot of fighters wanna do that at some point in their career. This is the moment for me. I wanna go on my own for a little bit.”

    Nunes Says The Door Is Still Open For Her At ATT

    With that in mind, Nunes confirmed that there has been no break or souring in relations between herself and the coaching, ownership, and team over at ATT. Instead, the reigning featherweight queen suggested the door is still open for her to enter the gym to train at any time.

    “American Top Team, together we did amazing things. All the coaches, the gym, the owner Dan Lambert; I feel like we did everything for each other. But now, for me, for my head, for now I feel like I should go do what I really want. I feel like I deserve to do what I want to do. It’s nothing to do with the gym. Actually, we’re still good. I can still walk in the gym and train whenever I want. I didn’t close the door because (nothing) happened. I did it my way, but we did a lot of things together. We made history together,” Nunes concluded.

    Despite maintaining a good relationship with individuals at ATT, including longtime head coach Mike Brown, Nunes will be employing the help of some former ATT mentors for her upcoming stint as a coach on this year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter, namely wrestling coach Kami Barzini and Roger Krahl.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZkxe7fPyiM/

    As well as entering the fight at 100% and injury free, something she says wasn’t the case prior to UFC 269, Nunes will be hoping that some fresh faces in her camp will help her rebound immediately in 2022 and secure redemption against Peña.

    Do you think Amanda Nunes can exact revenge on Julianna Peña in their rematch later this year?

  • Peña On Nunes’ UFC 269 Injury Claim: No One Had A Gun To Your Head

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña has reacted to Amanda Nunes’ claim that she was injured and shouldn’t have fought at UFC 269.

    At the final pay-per-view of 2021, Peña proved herself right and a whole lot of people across the MMA community wrong. Not only did she surprise fans and pundits with her pre-fight confidence, which came despite what many perceived to be an insurmountable task, but she provided one of the most shocking moments in the promotion’s history on fight night.

    In the second round of the co-main event, “The Venezuelan Vixen” forced Nunes, the then-double champ who was unbeaten since 2014, to tap. According to the newly-crowned 135-pound queen, the “Lioness” was exposed on December 11.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXmaaWsOw5r/

    Now three months gone from the memorable result, the former bantamweight titleholder has attempted to provide some context behind her disappointing, lackluster, and defeated performance at UFC 269.

    According to the Brazilian, her pre-fight camp was a “mess,” not only due to the initial summer delay after she contracted COVID-19 but because of injuries she carried during preparation and into the event itself.

    Peña: If You’re Injured, Don’t Fight

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Peña responded to Nunes’ claims and take on her first setback in 13 outings.

    Having experienced two serious knee injuries herself across her career, the champ admitted she has sympathy for her rival and understands what she’s been going through.

    But while she sees it as a “legitimate excuse,” Peña reminded Nunes that nobody was forcing her to compete. “The Venezuelan Vixen” said that if the consensus female GOAT’s injury was bad enough to have a doctor encourage her to withdraw, she simply should have delayed the fight.

    “It’s a tough situation for me to hear that because I’ve torn both my knees out. I have come back from two devastating knee injuries,” said Peña. “So, in one regard, I hear you, girl. I feel ya. I 100% know exactly what you are feeling like, you know. I have had that time off to reconstruct my knees, and to build them back, and to still be competing at the highest level that there is.

    “So, my knees are not an excuse to say I shouldn’t have shown up to the fight. If your knees are bad, don’t fight,” added Peña. “Nobody’s forcing a gun up to your head. Nobody’s making you do this. So, if you want to say that it was because you were injured, don’t take the fight, that’s fine. I’m sure we can find somebody else more than willing to step into that spot instead. I agree, fighters don’t like excuses, but then I also agree that that is a legitimate excuse. But then I also say, then fix it and let’s figure out how we can keep this party rolling,” Peña concluded.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZuoTe9vIpY/

    From the latest injury claim and discussion about the UFC 269 contest to controversial motherhood statements, the back and forth between Nunes and Peña has certainly not slowed since their December clash.

    Now, with the pair set to coach this year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter ahead of their rematch, it stands to reason we’re set for many more exchanges in the coming months.

    Do you think Julianna Peña will upset the odds again when she shares the Octagon with Amanda Nunes for the second time later this year?

  • Tate Says Peña’s Doubters Are “Crazy” To Think Nunes Win Was A Fluke

    Meisha Tate is putting all her confidence in Julianna Peña ahead of the new bantamweight champion’s rematch against Amanda Nunes.

    It is no secret that Miesha Tate is a fan of the newly crowned champion Julianna Peña. The two are good friends and former training partners. Tate was also Peña’s coach on their season of The Ultimate Fighter, and since then, she knew that Peña had what it takes to become a UFC champion.

    Now that Peña has defeated longtime champ Amanda Nunes, some people are caulking it up to luck or an off day on Nunes’ part. To these doubters, Tate has a message.

    “Oh, they’re crazy,” Tate said.

    Tate knows firsthand what it takes to become a UFC champion. And although her championship run was cut short by Nunes herself, Tate is positive that Peña could beat her again.

    Julianna Pena vs. Amanda Nunes

    “Yes, absolutely. She just has a no-quit, no-give-up mentality. And now that the seed of doubt has been planted in Amanda’s mind, that’s probably where I see the biggest change going, and that’s not gonna favor Amanda,” Tate told Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour.

    The rematch between Julianna Peña and Amanda Nunes is targeted for later this year after the two women have wrapped up the upcoming season as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter.

    As for what 2022 holds for “Cupcake,” Tate has announced that since Peña, her good friend is the reigning champ at 135 pounds, she will be dropping to flyweight. Tate will be making her flyweight debut against Lauren Murphy in April.

    Do you think Amanda Nunes would beat Julianna Peña in a rematch?

  • Amanda Nunes: I Was Lying To Myself Pre-UFC 269

    UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion Amanda Nunes says she was “lying” to herself by believing she could compete at UFC 269.

    After extending her win streak to 12, her two-division rule, and her seven-year unbeaten run at UFC 259 last March with a dominant submission win against Megan Anderson, Nunes returned to bantamweight to defend her 135-pound gold against Julianna Peña.

    While many saw the challenger as a gift-wrapped delivery for the Brazilian’s first outing in the weight class since 2019, Peña switched the ‘And Still’ bunting to ‘And New’ in December.

    After their initially scheduled UFC 265 clash was pushed back after the then-champ returned a positive COVID-19 test, the pair finally collided at the last pay-per-view of the year.

    Providing one of the most memorable moments of the year, and across the promotion’s entire history, “The Venezuelan Vixen” submitted Nunes in the second round to be crowned the new queen of the bantamweights.

    During a recent media scrum, Nunes, who still owns the featherweight gold, looked back on her crushing defeat inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    Having branded her camp as a “mess” due to the negative effect the UFC 265 cancelation had on her training, as well as numerous injuries she claims to have carried into the event, Nunes suggested the smart thing to do would have been to delay the matchup for the second time.

    According to the Brazilian, she was lying to herself by attempting to fight through her issues and by believing she could compete at 100% of her abilities at UFC 269.

    “I thought it wouldn’t look good if I let that fight fall through one more time. So I put what I was (dealing with) aside, but I didn’t have a very good camp, that was the honest thing,” said Nunes. “I tried putting into my head that I was ready, I was 100%, but I was lying to myself. That is exactly what I was (doing). But as a fighter, as a warrior, I wanna fight. I want to do that. I’m gonna fight whatever, even if I have an injury. But at this level, you cannot do those stupid moves. So, I paid for it.

    “I was supposed to let the fight fall through, get 100% again, and fight Julianna,” Nunes continued. “And I know Julianna is a very tough opponent. I know that (defeat) could have a chance at happening cause my timing was very off. I wasn’t even able to do sparring in my camp.”

    Nunes Reveals Doctor Advised Her Not To Fight At UFC 269

    To put into context how serious her troubles and physical issues were prior to UFC 269, Nunes revealed her doctor had advised her to pull out of the UFC’s year-ending PPV.

    The “Lioness” described her decision to ignore that advice as a “dumb” move, and one she certainly paid for at the hands of Peña.

    “Unfortunately, sometimes we do dumb things, and especially at the level I’m at, we’re not supposed to do those things,” said Nunes. “Sometimes I say, ‘Man, I really should’ve listened to my doctor.’ He told me, ‘Let me handle it with the UFC, I’ll tell them exactly what you’re going through right now, and you have to have time to rest and recover. If you don’t you’re not gonna perform as well.’ I was like, fighting with my doctor. I said, ‘You’re not gonna do that, you don’t have my permission to do that. I’m gonna fight.’

    “So, I went back to his offices (after UFC 269) and he looked at me like, ‘I told you,’” added Nunes. “So now, after watching the fight as well, I had a hard time for a little bit watching the fight because I was like, ‘Man, I don’t know what happened.’ Like, I kept lying to myself after the fight.”

    After losing the bantamweight title in 2021, Nunes will be hoping to reclaim her spot on the throne this year when she meets Peña for the second time. The pair are set to run it back following a stint coaching this year’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter.

    Are you excited for the new season of TUF and Julianna Peña vs. Amanda Nunes 2?

  • Julianna Peña Open To Exploring Potential WWE Run In The Future

    The UFC‘s new women’s bantamweight champion, Julianna Peña, is open to a future with the WWE.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” told the NY Post she would give professional wrestling a shot if the opportunity ever presented itself.

    “Right now my focus is on fighting. Later on, if that opportunity presents itself, I don’t see why I couldn’t explore that avenue. Definitely, my focus is on fighting for the UFC,” said Peña.

    Recently winning the championship and already having the rematch targeted for later this year, Peña certainly has a lot to focus on in her UFC career. Her next opponent, Amanda Nunes, will have her chance to reclaim the Bantamweight throne.

    Both women were recently announced as the coaches for the 30th season of The Ultimate Fighter with the rematch expected to take place this summer.

    Peña May Have Her Dream Opponent Waiting For Her In WWE

    If Peña did make a move over to the WWE, perhaps we could see her tangle with someone she’s called out in the UFC for years, Ronda Rousey.

    The bantamweight champ wasted no time after gaining the victory over Nunes at UFC 269 in December. Already, she has opponents lined up, one of whom being the 2022 WWE Woman’s Royal Rumble winner, Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey. Rousey made her return to WWE programming last month, and she is currently scheduled to perform at this year’s WrestleMania against Charlotte Flair.

    During Season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter, fans of the show witnessed the beginning of Peña’s and Rousey’s conflict.

    Miesha Tate, Julianna Peña, Ronda Rousey
    Miesha Tate, Julianna Peña, Ronda Rousey, Credit: The Ultimate Fighter

    Peña’s friendship with Miesha Tate solidified their tension, and as fierce competitors, they bumped heads while filming the show.

    The queen of armbar submissions may have been the face of the UFC’s women’s league at the time, but Peña never cowered and still desires a match with her in the cage.

    Hopefully for Peña, Rousey will pull a Brock Lesnar and make one more appearance in the UFC. However, if the curtain is officially closed on “Rowdy” returning to the Octagon, a WWE match might settle the fire between them.

    What do you think of Julianna Peña joining the WWE in the future?

  • Nunes Tells Peña To Enjoy Champion Status While It Lasts

    Amanda Nunes has warned UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña to enjoy her title reign while it lasts.

    The war of words ahead of their highly anticipated rematch has already begun with Nunes giving some advice to her foe as well as a warning that she will regain her belt when the time comes.

    “That Belt’s Mine. I’m Coming For It”

    From Amanda Nunes’ Twitter

    The UFC recently announced the 30th season of its The Ultimate Fighter series, which will be starring the bantamweight stars. Both fighters will coach the season, which involves contestants of fighters from both heavyweight and women’s flyweight weight classes.

    During a recent media scrum ahead of UFC 271, Nunes spoke to reporters regarding the recent TUF announcement as well as reflecting on her loss at UFC 269.

    The current UFC featherweight champion is expecting Peña to exchange words with her on the series making for a more heated rivalry come the rematch.

    “Yeah. I always expect that she’s talking,” Nunes said. “Actually, she has changed a little bit. She wants to look like the nice champion now.

    “So, I give her a little bit of credit (for) slowing down a little bit. Because when you have that thing, it’s not like, a simple thing. You have to really be careful and think about what comes out your mouth. I’ve paid for that before.”

    She continued to go into detail on how different life is as a champion once the belt has been captured while also warning Peña that she will be coming for the belt when the time comes.


    “You have a lot of people who look up to you,” continued Nunes. “You’re in the public eyes now. I’ve been there before and I know how exciting it is, like TV shows; all those things. I know she’s very excited about all those things. But at the end of the day, you have to keep up with that, and I know in the rematch we’re gonna take that back. She’s having a good time right now.

    “Enjoy every single day with that belt because that belt’s mine. I’m coming for it”

    While having lost her bantamweight belt, Nunes still remains a champion at featherweight, meaning their rematch—which is set to happen sometime later this year—will be a head-to-head, champion vs champion clash in what will be one of the biggest women’s MMA fights in history.

    Do you agree with Amanda Nunes that Juliana Peña’s reign as champion will soon be over?

  • Nunes Beating Peña Would Fuel Valentina Shevchenko For Trilogy Fight

    Valentina Shevchenko could be interested in another shot at Nunes if “The Lioness” beats Peña.

    Valentina Shevchenko is sitting back and watching the drama unfold between Amanda Nunes and Juliana Peña. The flyweight champ does not have a direct interest in the fight that went down at UFC 269 or the rematch, but in a roundabout way, it could pique her interest.

    Shevchenko has a history with Nunes. The two fought twice, with Nunes winning both times.

    Even though Shevchenko is now at flyweight, there have been rumblings of a possible third fight between these two. Nunes losing the belt, however, has stalled those talks. Shevchenko spoke with SunSport about her thoughts on the upcoming bantamweight rematch and how it impacts her own future.

    “I think Amanda will definitely want to take revenge next. There will be another fight [between Amanda and Julianna] again because it’s obvious,” she said. “If she prepares for the rematch, does everything right then she will probably regain her belt and it’ll be another reason why I have to move up to bantamweight for our trilogy.”

    Valentina Shevchenko
    Image via UFC’s YouTube channel

    For a bit, a potential third fight between Amanda Nunes and Shevchenko was the most interesting matchup the UFC could make in both divisions. Both have been so dominant in their respective title runs that it seemed inevitable. However, it was up to Shevchenko to make the move up in weight since Nunes would be unlikely to drop and she was not willing to do so.

    Shevchenko admitted that she was undersized when she fought at bantamweight and was grateful when the 125-pound division was made. When the UFC started allowing champions to hold two belts at the same time, that could have opened the door for the trilogy. But first, Nunes will have to get her bantamweight belt back.

    Do you think Valentina Shevchenko could beat Amanda Nunes if they fought at bantamweight today?

  • Peña Adopts ‘Don’t Start Nothing, Won’t Be Nothing’ Mindset For TUF 30

    Juliana Peña can’t be certain that there won’t be drama on TUF this season, but she knows that she won’t be the one starting it.

    A new season of The Ultimate Fighter is getting underway and the coaches have now been named. Bantamweight champion Juliana Peña will be opposing her former foe Amanda Nunes on the show.

    These two are fresh off their bout against each other where Peña dethroned Nunes. A rematch will be set for the conclusion of the season. After spending several weeks in close proximity to each other, the tension is bound to get heavy.

    The Ultimate Fighter show is known to have quite a bit of drama. The contestants are stuck in a house together for weeks with no contact with the outside world. Add on top of that weight cutting constantly and having to fight each other. All of these factors make for some loose cannons and drama starting at a moment’s notice.

    However, it is not only the cast that has beefed with each other. Many times it is the coaches who are at each other throats.

    In the case of TJ Dillashaw and Cody Grabrandt, they were literally at each other’s throats, as in grabbing each other by the throat. There has been some pushing and shoving between coaches since the very early days of TUF, but if any roughness starts this season, Peña claims it will not start it on her end.

    “Listen, it’s not gonna come from me on my side,” Peña told the media (via The Mac Life.) “I mean, if she wants to throw some ‘punches,’ we can do that. Trust me, nobody puts baby in a corner. I will be fighting back with everything that I have. I’m not gonna be pulling any shenanigans, and I don’t anticipate that I’m gonna be being that person. But if they come at me, then we’re gonna have a different story, obviously.”

    These two had their first faceoff since Peña won the belt from Nunes a few months ago. The face-off was very subdued and neither of them began trash-talking or shoving. All seems calm right now, but tempers could rise after the fights begin on the show and in the UFC APEX.

    Do you think there will be drama between Juliana Peña and Amanda Nunes on TUF?

  • Nunes: Peña Should Approach “Sensitive” Motherhood Subject Differently

    After her victory against Amanda Nunes at UFC 269, Julianna Peña claimed her spot as “first mom champ”.

    Peña stopped the show in round 2 by rear-naked choke and accomplished the greatest feats of her MMA career: defeating Amanda Nunes. “The Venezuelan Vixen” became the new bantamweight queen and noted another title for herself in a post-fight interview.

    January of 2018 marks the birth month of Peña’s first child. Peña gave birth by C-section and claims that makes her the first mom champion. This is in contrast to Nunes, who supported her wife Nina Nunes throughout the pregnancy and delivery.

    Since Peña’s statements made in December, she has clarified the meaning of her words. The bantamweight champion is not discrediting “The Lioness” as a mom or as a mom champ, but she believes since she birthed her daughter, that is deserving of separate recognition.

    However, the controversial comments left a sour taste in many mouths, especially Nunes, who posted on Instagram her counter opinion of motherhood.

    And Nunes’s views have not changed. During a recent media scrum, she touched on the subject again.

    “Honestly, how Julianna carried herself, I know that was coming from her. That don’t bother me that much. If I want, I can have a baby. I don’t have any problem. But I had to post something because when me and Nina went through the IVF process, I saw how many mothers were sitting down crying next to me because they’re not able to have a baby. They have to go through another way to be able to feel that love from a child and give it back,” said Nunes.

    Amanda, Nina, and Ragean Ann Nunes / Julianna Peña and Issa Cruz; Photo Credit: Getty / Instagram

    Agreeably, Peña needed to recover after her C-section birth to daughter Issa Cruz before getting back in the cage. However, the issues surrounding motherhood make it a sensitive subject for millions of people.

    “So, when I heard that from her, I was like, ‘Now I have to (respond)…’ There are a lot of people that can not have a baby. So, that was my way to step in and say like, ‘Okay, you’re a mother, cool, you delivered your baby, but there are a lot of people who are not able to.’ You have to really say those things in a different way because there are a lot of people sensitive about that subject. As a champion as well, I have to be able to stand out and voice something,” Nunes continued.

    At some point in 2022, both champions will meet in the Octagon again. Perhaps the motherhood controversy is adding more heat to their anticipated rematch.

    What are your thoughts on Amanda Nunes’s approach to Julianna Peña’s comments?

  • Julianna Peña Wants Attention To Shift From Title Win To Nunes Rematch

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña is hoping to turn the attention to her first title defense following her incredible crowning at UFC 269 last month.

    Despite being over a month removed from her gold-winning performance at the final pay-per-view of 2021, talk of Peña’s upset win in Las Vegas has barely died down. At UFC 269, she was tasked with ending the 12-fight win streak of then-two-division titleholder Amanda Nunes, and with becoming the first woman to defeat the Brazilian since 2014.

    On paper? A difficult, if not impossible, task. In reality? A task Peña expected to complete.

    With the majority of fans and pundits not giving her a chance, “The Venezuelan Vixen” entered the Octagon and delivered the performance of a lifetime. After escaping the opening round, Peña turned the heat up on a fatigued and visibly wobbly “Lioness.”

    After rocking Nunes on the feet, Peña dragged her to the mat and submitted her, leaving the commentators, fans in attendance, and MMA community in shock. But one person without any surprise on her face was the newly-crowned 135-pound queen.

    Peña: “I Just Wanna Talk About Moving Forward”

    Given the feat Peña achieved, one that is widely considered the greatest upset in UFC history, it’s no surprise that questions about her reaction to the result and thoughts on becoming champion are still ever-present in her interviews.

    However, Peña wants talk to turn to her next step; defending the gold for the first time in a rematch against Nunes.

    In an interview with Caroline Pearce for BT Sport, the champion suggested she’s keen to move forward and focus on the first challenge to her reign, which will come after a stint coaching this year’s season of The Ultimate Fighter alongside the “Lioness.”

    “I feel exactly the same. I expected to win that night. I expect to win in the future. It was what I expected from myself, so it wasn’t a surprise to me. I just wanna talk about moving forward, what’s gonna happen, and getting this rematch underneath my belt… I would love to stay active.”

    After Peña’s memorable triumph at UFC 269, both her and UFC President Dana White wasted little time in confirming the planned next step. At the post-fight press conference, White said Nunes would certainly be offered an immediate chance at redemption, something the Brazilian welcomed with open arms.

    With the inevitable back and forth that comes with a TUF season, it stands to reason their second clash will be a fiery affair.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZkxe7fPyiM/

    Having been the consensus female fighter of the year in 2021, Peña will look to create a similarly successful 2022, which will need to start with a second victory over the woman most regard as the greatest female fighter of all time.

    Do you think Julianna Peña can defeat Amanda Nunes for a second time when they meet for a rematch later this year?

  • Amanda Nunes: Peña Defeat Was A “Combination Of A Lot Of Things”

    UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion Amanda Nunes has opened up on her upset defeat to Julianna Peña at UFC 269.

    In a year that saw Mexico’s Brandon Moreno and Brazil’s Glover Teixeira crowned as unlikely champions, it was a certain “Venezuelan Vixen” who took the cake in terms of shocking title-winning performances.

    At the final pay-per-view of 2021, then-two-division UFC champion Nunes looked to extend her win streak to 13 and maintain her dominance over the 135-pound weight class.

    Hoping to hand the “Lioness” her first defeat since 2014 was Peña, an outspoken and confident challenger who represented a pre-fight approach we hadn’t seen versus Nunes for some time.

    While many doubted as much, The Ultimate Fighter‘s first female winner proved that her confidence was well placed by dethroning Nunes in a memorable fashion inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    Nunes: My Camp For Peña Was A “Mess”

    Now, with her chance at redemption confirmed for later this year, the former bantamweight queen has looked back on her upset loss on December 11, and detailed the issues she thinks led to her disappointing performance.

    In addition to the damage done to her training and routine by the pair’s canceled bout in August, which came after Nunes returned a positive COVID-19 test, the Brazilian has revealed she was suffering through injuries before and during her clash with “The Venezuelan Vixen.”

    Those factors led to what Nunes described as a “mess” of a pre-fight camp, and ultimately a defeated performance at UFC 269.

    “Honestly, I feel like it was a combination of a lot of things,” Nunes said during a recent media scrum. “You know, we were going through a lot of things before the fight, especially injuries and trying to train with injuries, all those things. I think I look back on my training camp preparing for Julianna; it was a mess. If you look back, the first fight (booking), I had Covid. I was doing good in that camp, and then I get Covid, and I have to stop; to really start over.

    “Finally, I start over, I get a couple issues that I had to go through with it, but I (didn’t) wanna let that fight go again,” Nunes added. “So I thought it wouldn’t look good if I let that fight fall through one more time… I didn’t have a very good camp. That is the honest thing.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZkxe7fPyiM/

    With the pair set for a coaching stint on TUF before their intriguing rematch, Nunes will hope to make it to her chance for redemption at 100%. If she does so, Peña will certainly have a tough opening defense for her newly begun reign atop the bantamweight mountain.

    Do you think Amanda Nunes will exact revenge on Julianna Peña in their rematch?

  • Watch: Juliana Peña And Amanda Nunes’ Have First TUF Faceoff

    Juliana Peña and Amanda Nunes had their first TUF faceoff earlier today.

    The rivalry between newly crowned bantamweight champion Juliana Peña and former champion Amanda Nunes is beginning to heat up. Fresh off her victory over Nunes, Peña was gunning for another chance at the GOAT. Peña wants to prove that she is the best at 135 pounds beyond a reasonable doubt, and if beating Nunes again will solidify that, then she is ready.

    To sweeten the deal of the rematch, the UFC has named these two as coaches of the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF).

    Peña and Nunes were announced as coaches for the 30th season of TUF just recently. They have not begun filming yet, but the two were involved in a media day to promote the show. During the media day in Las Vegas, Nunes had the chance to come face to face with the only woman to have beaten her in seven years.

    During the face-off, Peña was wearing a black TUF jersey, showing that her chosen team will be the black team. Nunes was wearing red. The man in the middle of the faceoff, standing in for Dana White, was TUF alum Forrest Griffin. No words were spoken between the two, but Nunes was holding her featherweight belt while Peña donned her new bantamweight strap.

    Peña’s UFC journey began when she was a member of the season 18 Ultimate Fighter cast. Peña won her season and now gets the chance to help others go down the path she has before.

    This 30th season will feature men’s heavyweights and women’s flyweights battling it out for a UFC contract while locked away from the outside world. Since the inception of The Ultimate Fighter, many fighters featured on the show went on to have great UFC careers, with a few becoming champions.

    The new season featuring Peña and Nunes begins Tuesday, May 3 on ESPN+.

    Do you think Julianna Peña will be able to make in 2-0 against Amanda Nunes after this season of TUF?

  • Nunes During Face-To-Face With Peña: I Just Want To Be 100% Ths Time

    Amanda Nunes wants to prove her backers right when she gets a second chance against Julianna Peña after the next season of The Ultimate Fighter.

    Earlier today, MMA News broke the news that Julianna Peña and Amanda Nunes will be coaching the next season of TUF opposite one another. We now know that the new season will kick off on May 3 after news became public following an appearance from Peña on Ellen. You can peep the official poster down below.

    Image

    Shortly after this news and the team rosters were released, Peña and Nunes sat down for a virtual face-to-face interview moderated by ESPN’s Michael Eaves. Here were some of the main talking points from the joint interview.

    • Peña reiterated her enthusiasm to give back to the next generation of fighters after getting her start on TUF almost a full decade ago.
    • Nunes touched briefly on her decision to leave American Top Team, stating that she has always wanted to be a coach and that she expects this process to help her in the rematch.
    • When asked what life has been like since pulling off one of MMA’s biggest upsets of all time, Peña stated that she is not resting on her laurels and is looking forward to putting the Nunes chapter of her career behind her so that she can see what’s next.

    “Honestly, of course, the belt is something that all of us chase. At this point in my life, I just want to show up 100% how I want to be. So with the belt, without the belt, I just want to really, really prove I’m better than her.” – Amanda Nunes

    From Amanda Nunes’ Twitter

    In what was perhaps the most noteworthy tidbit from this interview, Nunes claims that she was not 100% in her UFC 269 bout against Peña and that her primary objective going into the rematch is not about winning, losing, or championships, but just showing up at full strength, which she claims was not the case last December.

    Nunes did not specify what precisely was ailing her, however, it is common knowledge that she reportedly came down with COVID-19 last year, which is what caused the postponement of this fight, which was originally scheduled for UFC 265.

    You can view the full virtual face-to-face interview below.

    Are you looking forward to the next season of The Ultimate Fighter hosted by Julianna Peña and Amanda Nunes?

  • Julianna Peña & Amanda Nunes Set To Coach TUF Ahead Of Rematch

    After winning UFC gold, Julianna Peña will fulfill another dream by coaching The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) prior to her rematch against Amanda Nunes later this year.

    Recently, Peña revealed that talks had begun for her to coach TUF alongside Amanda Nunes before running back their UFC 269 clash. Now, MMA News can confirm that this arrangement has been agreed to by both parties.

    There is currently no set schedule for when the season will begin airing or when the rematch will take place. Peña is on the record for expressing her preference for the rematch to take place in the summer, which falls right in line with the upcoming taping of TUF.

    Julianna Peña shocked the world at UFC 269. The massive underdog overcame a tough first round and let her hands go in the second. The bout ended with Peña sinking in the choke and ending the streak of the consensus WMMA GOAT, Amanda Nunes.

    Immediately following her win, Peña discussed what it would mean for her to coach TUF during the UFC 269 post-fight press conference. 

    “I would love to coach The Ultimate Fighter. It’s always been a dream of mine,” Peña said. “And yeah, I would love for her to coach alongside me. I got nothing but love and respect for Amanda. I think that she’s been a great champion. And coaching The Ultimate Fighter would be another dream come true for me.”

    Julianna Pena
    Julianna Peña

    The Ultimate Fighter has run since 2005 on various media outlets. The most recent season featured featherweight coaches Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega ahead of their UFC 266 title bout. Peña herself became the first female Ultimate Fighter season winner in 2013.

    Throughout the years, the show has waned in viewership but still managed to pump out future stars and provided us with multiple champions. Like Peña, current belt-holders Rose Namajuanas and Kamaru Usman also made their way into the UFC via the show. 

    “The Venezuelan Vixen’s” win over Nunes will forever be remembered as one of the biggest upsets in the promotion’s history. And as she prepares to defend her title, Peña finds herself in the fortunate position to begin paving the way for a new generation of fighters to begin chasing their own dreams and forging new legacies.

    Will you be watching Amanda Nunes and Julianna Peña coach The Ultimate Fighter?

  • Quote: Harrison Is P4P Best Female Fighter Ever, Not Rousey/Nunes

    According to Dominance MMA Management CEO Ali Abdelaziz, Kayla Harrison is the pound-for-pound greatest female fighter of all time.

    In the space of three-and-a-half years, Harrison has rapidly grown from a newcomer to the sport to the hottest free agent in MMA. In doing so, she’s collected 12 wins, including five by knockout and five by submission, two PFL world championships, and a handsome $2 million in prize money.

    Having added those accolades to her already illustrious career in combat sports, which includes back-to-back Olympic gold medals at London 2012 and in Rio de Janeiro four years later, the 31-year-old has quickly entered the female GOAT conversation, at least according to her manager.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYrLabTh4XJ/

    While some believe she first has to prove herself in the UFC before surpassing the likes of former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and former two-division titleholder and reigning featherweight queen Amanda Nunes, Harrison’s manager sees things differently.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura, Abdelaziz, who also manages the likes of Kamaru Usman, Henry Cejudo, Justin Gaethje, and Khabib Nurmagomedov, claimed Harrison has already established herself as the best P4P female fighter we’ve ever seen enter the cage.

    “Listen, let’s make this clear today, Kayla Harrison is the pound-for-pound greatest female fighter we’ve ever seen,” said Abdelaziz. “It’s not Ronda, we’ve seen what happened to Amanda, it’s not Julianna Peña, it’s Kayla Harrison. This girl, she was born to collect gold. There’s not a woman on the planet, and some of the men too, born to beat Kayla Harrison.”

    PFL Is The “Frontrunner” For Harrison’s Signature

    Harrison has been a free agent ever since her dominant victory over Taylor Guardado at the 2021 PFL Finals last October. Having previously suggested the rising promotion would have to offer her a significantly more lucrative deal to retain her services, and after appearing at both Bellator and UFC events, it seemed an arrival on fresh land was likely.

    However, it now looks like fans could be set for another season of Harrison inside the PFL cage. During his conversation with Segura, Abdelaziz confirmed that the PFL is the frontrunner for her signature. However, he said nothing has been signed as of yet.

    “Right now, PFL is the frontrunner. I’ve seen a report that she’s signed with the PFL, that is not a correct,” asserted Abdelaziz. “She’s still a free agent. But at the end of the day, listen, PFL have been great to her. They’re being great to all of us… A couple things need to happen, and is in the process, and I think, you know, PFL is looking really good right now.”

    In another interview from Segura, Harrison herself confirmed the report, which came out a number of weeks ago. Despite revealing that the UFC had made a “good starting offer,” she suggested her immediate future will likely see her target a third PFL title and a third $1 million check.

    Do you think another season with the PFL is the best choice for Kayla Harrison’s career?

  • Rogan: Peña’s UFC 269 Upset Over Nunes Changed The World

    UFC color commentator Joe Rogan believes women’s bantamweight queen Julianna Peña changed the world with her victory over Amanda Nunes at UFC 269.

    At the final pay-per-view of 2021, Peña closed out the year by providing one of its most memorable moments. Prior to the event, “The Venezuelan Vixen” carried an air of confidence that has never been synonymous with opponents of Nunes, who was undefeated since 2014 at the time and reigned over both the 135 and 145-pound weight classes.

    Having been branded delusional by most, including the “Lioness,” Peña set out to prove herself right and her doubters wrong. In about as impressive fashion as she could, she did just that.

    After surviving the opening round, Peña brought a look out of Nunes that no one has managed to do since Cat Zingano eight years ago. After tiring the Brazilian out in a wild battle on the feet, Peña dragged her to the ground and submitted her.

    According to the new champ, Nunes got “exposed” at UFC 269.

    Rogan: Peña Showed What Is Possible

    The result was an upset felt around the world. From casual fans and hardcore fans to fighters and pundits, very few had seen it coming. That’s what made it arguably the biggest shock in UFC history.

    One man who recognized the momentous nature of the win was Joe Rogan. From his cageside seat, the renowned podcast host had a front-row view for what transpired. In his mind, the fight not only changed the landscape of the division and the promotion but the entire world.

    “It was almost like the world changed,” Rogan said while hosting Peña on an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience. “The whole world changed. Like, what is not possible is now possible.”

    Whilst the UFC 269 co-main event brought the MMA community one of the most memorable underdog triumphs the sport has ever seen, Rogan believes the fight itself also boasted everything required to make it a classic.

    The 54-year-old told the newly-crowned champion that her effort that night in Las Vegas created everything he and the rest of the fanbase would ever want from a matchup inside the Octagon.

    “That was one of the best fights I’ve ever seen. In terms of, what do you want out of a fight? You want to be completely immersed,” added Rogan. “The world goes away. All you’re thinking about is what’s happening right in front of you. And because of your effort, because of what you accomplished that night, you changed the way people think about what’s possible and not possible. That’s everything we want from a fight. Everything.

    “You were the underdog, you came in, you were counted out by so many people, you fought the greatest of all time, and you fucked her up. And the way you did it, the whole world—everybody that watched that was like, ‘Holy shit.’ The world is a different place now.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYHysQivvs7/

    Having ascended the 135-pound mountaintop, the next step for Peña will be to further tighten her hold on the belt by adding another blemish to Nunes’ record when they collide for their expected rematch later his year.

    But even if she is unable to do so, nobody will be able to take away her accomplishment and the incredible feat she achieved on December 11.

    What was your reaction when Julianna Peña ended the two-division dominance of Amanda Nunes at UFC 269?

  • Peña Heartbroken After Khabib’s Comments About Her UFC 269 Win

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña was heartbroken to hear Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments that downgraded both her win over Amanda Nunes and the quality of women’s mixed martial arts.

    At UFC 269, Julianna Peña silenced many a critic and generated the sorrow of overconfident gamblers across the globe who bet the house on Amanda Nunes. The bout was a true illustration of the unpredictability of MMA and the magnitude a big PPV moment could carry.

    There was one man who was not impressed, however. And it wasn’t just anybody; it was the legendary and undefeated former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    Unlike many other spectators, Khabib was not moved by Peña’s inspirational performance. In fact, during an Eagle FC press conference, Khabib expressed in so many words that Peña’s victory over Nunes was a testament to WMMA’s inferiority.

    “I am like, we can watch what Julianna Peña did with Amanda Nunes [at UFC 269]. But Julianna Peña, she is not like the greatest or something like that. She just beat Amanda Nunes like [on the day]. We can watch not many good [female] fighters all around the world. There are only like five or six of them,” Khabib said.

    Peña Heartbroken Over Khabib’s Comments

    Until last week, Julianna Peña had not responded to Khabib’s remarks, and we now have a glimpse as to why that is.

    Before her bout with Amanda Nunes was even made, she scoffed at a comparison between Nunes and Khabib when MMA reporter Ariel Helwani compared the fear factor the two figures carried across the sport. Peña would even outright demand that Helwani never make that comparison again, implying that The Eagle was too lofty of a figure to be juxtaposed with the Lionness.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-iWFINrQyw

    With this level of reverence in mind, it should come as no surprise that Peña was saddened to hear Khabib’s take on her championship victory and his downgrade of all of WMMA in the progress.

    “I saw in a presser that they asked [Khabib] a question and he was just completely downgrading the whole win and everything like that….it totally broke my heart…” Peña said in a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. “I was like, ‘Dude, you’re breaking my heart, man. Like, I freaking love you. Like, seriously.”

    Khabib’s name was brought up when Peña and Rogan were discussing fighters who retired on their own terms. Peña begrudgingly credited Khabib for the way he retired and stuck to his guns but still couldn’t help but revisit the recent wounds the ground-and-pound specialist inflicted on her.

    “He must be friends with Kayla Harrison or something. I don’t know. Because he was like, [MOCK KHABIB ACCENT] ‘If this is the top of women’s division, it’s a joke,” Peña said. “I mean, it wasn’t very nice. I didn’t appreciate it, Khabib.”

    Khabib’s comments were made when asked if there were any plans of adding women’s divisions to his Eagle FC promotion in the near future. Khabib left the door open, but as you might have guessed from his comments, he isn’t in any big hurry to make this addition to his promotion’s overall roster.

    Meanwhile, Khabib criticisms aside, Peña is hoping to deliver an encore of her UFC 269 victory over Nunes sometime in 2022 in a rematch that she, Nunes, and UFC President Dana White have already signed off on, with a potential season of The Ultimate Fighter leading up to the big sequel.

    Perhaps if she defeats Nunes again and proves that it wasn’t a fluke, she will have gained the approval of this man she once admired and perhaps boost his perception of WMMA in the process.

    What are your thoughts on Julianna Peña’s reaction to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments about her UFC 269 win over Amanda Nunes?

  • Kayla Harrison Suggests UFC Offer Is A Case Of Bad Timing

    Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison hasn’t made up her mind on her free agency, but the UFC’s offer may now be off the table.

    Harrison earned the 2021 PFL lightweight championship after defeating Taylor Guardado in the finals. She remains undefeated in her professional MMA career after a successful tenure in Olympic Judo.

    Many believed that the UFC might’ve been the most likely destination for Harrison. This included a potential matchup with her now-former teammate Amanda Nunes for the UFC featherweight title.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Harrison explained her free agency decision process and what promotions are still under consideration.

    “I got the offer from the UFC. I know what it is. I think timing-wise, because of certain things that are gonna happen with Amanda [Nunes] and Julianna [Peña] etc…” Harrison said. “Timing is kind of everything in this sport, so PFL’s definitely the front-runner. Bellator, again, we had spoken to. I don’t know the exact details of what was said between Ali and them, but I know what I had proposed, so, it doesn’t look like that’s gonna—we’ll see.”

    Harrison was then asked whether or not Nunes’ shocking loss to Julianna Peña altered any plans she had to sign with the UFC.

    “Not really, I was bummed for my teammate that night, there’s a viral video of me screaming something like, ‘Fuck!’ But it was mostly ’cause I was in shock and bummed for her. But what Amanda does with her career has no barring on my career and I respect her, I have a ton of respect for her as a fighter, as a mom, as a human being, but my journey is my journey.”

    Recent reports indicate that Harrison is expected to re-sign with the PFL on possibly a one-year contract. This would allow her to reevaluate the landscape next year.

    Harrison has emerged as one of the most dominant fighters in MMA today and could fight on the biggest platform in the sport sooner rather than later. But for now, it appears that the UFC may be temporarily out of the Kayla Harrison sweepstakes.

    What are your predictions for Kayla Harrison in 2022?