A match between Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena is finally going down.
Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena Set for UFC 265
Amanda Nunes returns to the 135-pound weight division to defend her title against Julianna Pena at UFC 265. UFC President Dana White made the announcement via ESPN on Sunday. UFC 265 takes place in August, although location and time have not been announced.
This is the first time Nunes has defended her title in the bantamweight division since December 2019. Nunes defended her title earning a unanimous decision win over Germaine de Randamie at UFC 245.
Amanda Nunes Defends Titles in Two Divisions
Moving up to the featherweight division, Nunes defeated Cris Cyborg in 51-seconds of the bout to earn the title. Fight fans could not believe how quickly Nunes knocked out a fighter as great as Cris Cyborg.
With this win, Nunes became the first woman to hold titles in two divisions while. Nunes is the third fighter in UFC history to hold this honor. She’s also the UFC #1 Pound-for-Pound Fighter.
Julianna Pena: “Come Murder Me Then”
Most fighters want no part of a Nunes fight, but Pena is vocal about the opportunity.
During a March interview with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, Pena said that she is “pissed off” that she hasn’t fought Nunes. She stated that, “I am the worst matchup for her.” Pena later tells Helwani that if Nunes thinks she is the best, that she can ‘murder’ anyone in the octagon: “Come murder me then.”
This is not the first time Pena has called Nunes out. She called her out after her UFC 257 win and again after her UFC armbar submission win against Amanda Anderson at UFC 260. Pena posted to Twitter “Fight Me.”
Nunes responded by saying that she would fight anyone Dana {White} put her up against. Pena has long speculated that Nunes is afraid to lose her belt and avoids fighting her.
What gives Pena confidence that she can beat a fighter considered to be the GOAT of the MMA women’s division
Pena defeated Cat Zingano at UFC 200 in 2016. Zingano is the last fighter to beat Nunes, leaving her on the mat in a fetal position in 2014. Pena says Nunes was “begging the referee to rescue her from the fury of punches.”
Pena thinks she has the skills and stamina to take down “The Lioness” if she’s capable of defeating Zingano.
The Zingano bout served as the last loss for Nunes, who currently shows dominance with her current 12-fight win streak, Nunes has defeated greats like Rhonda Rousey and Holly Helm. Widely considered to be the GOAT of the women’s MMA vision, Nunes is the UFC’s #1 Pound-for-Pound Fighter.
Holding a 10-4 professional record, Pena was the first woman to win The Ultimate Fighter. She’s won three of her last five fights, defeated by Valentina Shevchenko and Germaine de Randamie. She defeated Sara McMann via a rear-naked choke in Round 3 at UFC 257. This is the last time Pena has fought.
UFC 265: Nunes Vs. Pena Date and Location
We know the event is scheduled for pay-per-view on August 7. The location and time are to be announced. Check back with MMASucka for the latest UFC 265 news and updates.
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