Amanda Nunes, the most dominant woman in combat sports history, added another line to her résumé on Saturday, as she defended her featherweight title against Felicia Spencer.
With Holm no longer on her radar, Pena turned her attention to the next title shot after Nunes (21-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) submitted Anderson (11-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC) early in Round 1. “ I want to fight (Amanda Nunes),” Pena wrote in a follow-up tweet. “ Get rid of 145 it’s dead. Fight me Amanda!” Fight me @AmandaLeoa!
— Amanda Nunes (@AmandaLeoa) January 24, 2021 Ansaroff was referring to Pena's loss to Valentina Shevchenko on Jan. Shevchenko would fight Nunes for the title in her next fight at UFC. This weekend’s fight at UFC 259 will be the double champion Amanda Nunes’ first title defense as a mother. Mom champ Amanda Nunes is looking to make UFC history. Last September Amanda’s wife, fellow UFC fighter Nina Ansaroff, gave birth to their first child Raegan Ann Nunes. As we get ready to enter 2021, the UFC's bantamweight and featherweight divisions are still controlled by the GOAT, Amanda Nunes (20-4). Nunes has held both titles since December of 2018 when she knocked out Cris Cyborg at UFC 232. Since making her UFC debut back in 2013, Nunes has gone 13-1 with her lone loss coming to Cat Zingano. That fight occurred when Nunes will still coming into her own. UFC 259 results: Full fight coverage of the women’s Featherweight championship pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event match tonight (Sat., March 6, 2021) between Amanda Nunes and Megan Anderson from.
The two-weight champion has now won 11 bouts in a row, and defeated some of the most accomplished women of all time in Ronda Rousey, Cris 'Cyborg' Justino, Valentina Shevchenko, Miesha Tate and Holly Holm. This topic comes up a lot around dominant champions, but in Nunes' case, it's hard to dispute. She's running out of people to fight.
But, she's not retiring either. So, who's it going to be? And what about the other big names of UFC 250? Here's ESPN's take.
Amanda Nunes (defeated Felicia Spencer by unanimous decision)
Who should be next: Megan Anderson
I mean, I guess. And to be clear, that's not a knock on Anderson at all. She's a legitimately talented featherweight, with legitimate wins on her record. But she's still pretty green to be taking a fight against the greatest female fighter of all time. I don't like her chances. And frankly, I think it could end up being bad for her career if she fights Nunes.
This is the kind of sport in which when you lose very badly, sometimes there's no coming back. And Anderson might lose very badly against Nunes. I feel the same way about bantamweight prospect Aspen Ladd, who fights later this month. She's supremely talented but not ready for Nunes.
But again, Nunes isn't retiring. And she's already at the 145-pound weight. Anderson has no one else to fight. She makes as much sense as anyone.
Dark horse: Valentina Shevchenko
Dana White told me Saturday he's not into the idea of this fight, but it's certainly better than many others I can come up with. I thought Shevchenko actually beat Nunes the second time they fought, in 2017.
For the record, I would actually like to see this fight happen down the road. Let both of them continue to dominate and then give it a full spotlight in 2021. Make it for the title of pound-for-pound best female on the planet. I'm down to wait for this one, and I really don't think it will happen next, but given the lack of options for Nunes, I also wouldn't rule it out.
Cody Garbrandt (defeated Raphael Assuncao by second-round KO)
Who should be next: Marlon Moraes
Why mess around? Why do anything else? The only argument against this fight is, 'Should we really throw Garbrandt straight into a fight against one of the most proven finishers in the division, just because he had one good performance on Saturday?' And it's a fair point. Let's not forget, coming into this fight, Garbrandt had been knocked out in three in a row. But my answer to that question is, yes, they should.
I never really thought Garbrandt completely lost his mojo, even during that three-fight skid. I just thought he needed to refine some things and find a true head coach. Yes, I was a little worried about the damage he'd taken in those losses, but that skid played out over nearly three years. The talent never went anywhere. The speed never went anywhere.
His confidence is back. Why treat Garbrandt with kid gloves? Moraes is the fight.
Dark horse: Winner of Joseph Benavidez vs. Deiveson Figueiredo flyweight title fight
Garbrandt wants Petr Yan or Jose Aldo, and it's not hard to understand why. He wants the bantamweight title back. I can't see that happening in his next fight, though, not after the performance Aljamain Sterling had Saturday. So Garbrandt is not going to slide into a 135-pound title shot.
But how about a 125-pound title fight? Benavidez and Figueiredo are expected to fight on July 18. The winner will be the new champ, and there's not an obvious 125-pound contender to face the winner. Garbrandt has said he can make the weight and he'd immediately be the biggest name to ever fight at 125 pounds. If he can in fact make it, then why not?
Aljamain Sterling (defeated Cory Sandhagen by first-round submission)
Who should be next: Winner of Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo
UFC hasn't announced an official date for Yan vs. Aldo for the vacant bantamweight championship, but I'm expecting it to take place in early July. There are a lot of complaints about this title fight -- and I can't argue any of them. Aldo is a legend, but he's coming off a loss and is 2-4 in his past six contests.
If the fight happens in early July, though, and Sterling gets his title shot in the next 135-pound championship bout, all's well that ends well. It's fun to see Sterling go into a title opportunity on such a high. He has looked as good as any 135-pounder in the division for a while.
When Is Amanda Nunes Fighting Next Season Game
Dark horse: Yan. Or Aldo.
When Is Amanda Nunes Fighting Next
I would suggest Sterling stay ready. Traveling around the world in 2020 is not as easy as it was in 2019. Things fall through, plans are scrapped. I could very much envision a world in which Sterling's number gets called one month from now. And one hopes he'll be in shape and ready to answer the call if that opportunity comes.
Sean O'Malley (defeated Eddie Wineland by first-round KO)
Who should be next: Marlon Vera
This fight was originally supposed to happen in July 2019, before O'Malley was flagged for an unfortunate doping violation -- which the United States Anti-Doping Agency ultimately said was unintentional. Since then, O'Malley missed time because of a suspension and now has burst back onto the scene with back-to-back finishes over Jose Quinonez and Wineland.
Vera has won two of three inside the Octagon, and the one he lost -- a decision loss to Song Yadong -- was a bit controversial. O'Malley vs. Yadong would be a great fight as well, but stylistically, I like the Vera fight a little more. And Vera has an air of confidence to him that will rival what O'Malley brings to the table.
Dark horse: Song Yadong
I actually suggested Yadong as an opponent for O'Malley after he beat Quinonez in March. Honestly, maybe this would make more sense than Vera, as Yadong is on a roll and hasn't lost since 2016. It's a great fight, but it's not as if it makes that much more sense than a fight against Vera.
© Provided by FansidedAmanda Nunes wasted no time replying to Julianna Pena's UFC 257 call out.
Julianna Pena submitted former bantamweight title contender Sara McMann in the third round of their fight at UFC 257. In the post-fight interview, Pena called for a title fight against current women's bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes and accused the champion of ducking her.
'Quit ducking.'
???????? @VenezuelanVixen with a huge callout for 135! #UFC257pic.twitter.com/zfk0G43v2k
— UFC (@ufc) January 24, 2021
It only took Nunes a matter of minutes before she took to Twitter to reply. Nunes immediately took issue with Pena's claims of ducking her, saying that Pena never made herself a contender.
Ducking? You couldn't even make yourself a contender for me. @VenezuelanVixen#UFC257
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) January 24, 2021
Nunes' wife and UFC strawweight Nina Ansaroff chimed in, taking another shot at Pena. Which was followed up with another tweet from Nunes.
Remember that one time you guys were suppose to fight, but then she lost?
— Nina Ansaroff (@NinaAnsaroff) January 24, 2021
When Is Amanda Nunes Fighting Next Season
Twice.
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) January 24, 2021
What's Next For Amanda Nunes
Ansaroff was referring to Pena's loss to Valentina Shevchenko on Jan. 28, 2017. Shevchenko would fight Nunes for the title in her next fight at UFC 215. Pena's only other loss in the UFC was against Germaine de Randamie on Oct. 4, 2020. While a win likely would have made Pena a title contender, it came after Nunes last fought at UFC 250.
Pena's victory over McMann improved her record to 10-4 with seven finishes. The 31-year-old entered UFC 257 as the seventh-ranked women's bantamweight in the UFC. Pena will have to wait and see if her call out will earn her the next title fight against Nunes.
When Is Amanda Nunes Fighting Next
Nunes has made five successful defenses of her bantamweight title since she defeated Miesha Tate to win the title at UFC 200. With title defenses against de Randamie, Holly Holm and Raquel Pennington, that leaves only Aspen Ladd and Irene Aldana as the only fighters ahead of Pena in the rankings who have yet to fight Nunes. However, Aldana is coming off of a loss to Holm and Ladd recently lost to de Randamie.