Why is Amanda Nunes considered the greatest female UFC fighter?
Amanda Nunes is the first and the only female fighter to simultaneously become a two division champion in the UFC.
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Amanda Nunes ( image via : UFC.com)
Amanda Nunes can arguably be considered one of the most dominant fighters in the UFC. ‘The Lioness’ might not have a perfect undefeated track record but she has been defeating great fighters inside the octagon for a very long time. Apart from that she also holds her own against the very best in the UFC, when it comes to the G.O.A.T.
If a case is to be made for the greatest female fighter in UFC, Amanda Nunes would be at the very forefront. Born on May 30, 1988, ‘The Lioness’ is a mixed martial artist from Bahia, Brazil. She started out aspiring to become a professional soccer player and even played on her local Pojuca team. However, her family already had a background in mixed martial arts. Nunes attended her first Capoeira classes at age five and then moved on to learning Karate at age seven.
She later started learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu when she was 16 and competed in many BJJ tournaments. Apart from being the two-division champion in UFC, she also holds a black belt in BJJ and a brown belt in Judo.
Amanda Nunes and her double-division champion status
There are not many in the UFC who can claim to have been champions in two divisions. However, the number of fighters who have been two division champions simultaneously is far less.
Many greats like Israel Adesanya, Alexander Volkanovski, and BJ Penn have failed while trying to become the double champion. The only fighters who have achieved the double champ status include Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo, and Amanda Nunes.
The two-division champion status is yet another reason why Nunes is considered the greatest female fighter in UFC. The lioness won her first championship after defeating former bantamweight champion, Miesha Tate at UFC 200. Nunes displayed a very dominant performance and submitted Miesha Tate in the very first round via a rear naked choke.
After defending her titles against big names like Ronda Rousey and Valentina Shevchenko, Nunes eventually moved up a division. There, she defeated one of the most feared fighters in the women’s division Chris Cyborg. Despite Cyborg previously dismantling her opponents inside the octagon, she could not achieve the same with Nunes. Instead, the Lioness knocked out Cyborg in the first round to become the first and only female two-division champion.
Dana White believes Amanda Nunes is one of the greatest mixed martial artists to ever live
After defeating Chris Cyborg at UFC 232, Amanda Nunes became the first double champion in the women’s division. Her first-round knockout against the fearsome Cyborg left many considering Nunes as the greatest female fighter.
Even Joe Rogan and UFC President Dana White were unequivocal about naming Nunes among the greatest of all time.
Yes, she's the best. We said it going into that fight, the one that came out with the 135 and 145-pound belts would be the best ever. The winner of that fight would be the best ever.Dana White
While Dana White was hesitant to put Nunes above Jon Jones, he certainly thinks of Nunes as the greatest female fighter. Cyborg’s loss against Amanda Nunes was her very first since her debut in 2005.
The Lioness also defended both her titles on multiple counts. She also defeated big names like Ronda Rousey, Valentina Shevchenko, Miesha Tate, and more while defending her double champ status.
FAQs
Amanda Nunes made her octagon debut at UFC 163 on August 3, 2013.
Amanda Nunes was born on May 30, 1988, in Bahia, Brazil.
After defeating Chris Cyborg at UFC 232 in 2018, Amanda Nunes became the first double champion in the women’s division.
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Viraj Kelshikar
(227 Articles Published)