Amanda Nunes entertained the idea of retirement after her loss to Julianna Pena, but the thought of leaving the championship belt in Pena’s hands was unbearable to her.
Following her defeat, which ended her remarkable unbeaten streak of 12 fights over six years, Nunes realized she had nothing left to prove. As a two-division champion and having defeated every previous UFC gold holder in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions, Nunes initially contemplated retirement. However, she quickly had a change of heart.
“I decided not to retire because I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving my belt with Julianna,” Nunes confessed during a media day for UFC 289. “No way. It can go to someone else, but not Julianna.”
The setback in 2021 was particularly difficult for Nunes, as she deeply believed she was far superior to Pena. Despite this conviction, Nunes had one of the worst performances of her career, resulting in the loss of her UFC title.
It took Nunes some time to come to terms with what went wrong that night, realizing that everything seemed to align perfectly for Pena to claim the victory.
“I know I can defeat her anytime I want,” Nunes asserted. “She was meant to win that day. I made the mistakes of entering the fight without being in top shape, and I paid the price. I will never do that again. Ever, ever, ever.”
Nunes regained her UFC bantamweight championship in a dominant rematch against Pena, proving her point with a decisive unanimous decision victory.
Nunes’ aversion to the idea that Pena believed she was the superior fighter only fueled her desire to return and avenge her prior defeat.
“She’s not as good as she thinks she is,” Nunes remarked about Pena. “That was hard to accept. She’s wild, constantly pressing forward, throwing punches, just relying on her toughness. And she had the belt. She can take a hit. No. Absolutely not.”
“I knew I would go back and reclaim that belt. In the second fight, I knew I would regain my championship, and I did it,” Nunes added confidently.
A trilogy fight was initially scheduled for UFC 289, but Pena’s rib injury forced her to withdraw from the event, with Irene Aldana stepping in as her replacement.
If Nunes successfully defends her title against Aldana and everything goes well, the UFC may consider booking a rematch between Nunes and Pena.
Nunes welcomes the idea of facing Pena again but doubts that Pena will pose a legitimate challenge.
“I have no problem fighting her again after this. She makes me better. This is MMA. If she sticks to her style, I’m sorry, but she won’t last long,” Nunes declared. “I am constantly evolving. I can strike, wrestle, and my wrestling is superior. My ground game is better than hers. If she attacks me in any aspect, I can defend it. I’m stronger. I am better than her in every aspect. She doesn’t stand a chance.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Amanda Nunes, retirement, Julianna Pena, championship
Q: Did Amanda Nunes consider retirement after losing to Julianna Pena?
A: Yes, Amanda Nunes seriously considered retirement after her loss to Julianna Pena. However, she ultimately decided against it because she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her championship belt with Pena.