Amanda Nunes is now a two-time UFC women’s bantamweight champion after dominating Julianna Pena in the UFC 277 main event
Amanda Nunes has scored her revenge, recaptured lost gold and furthered her legacy in MMA.
In the main event of UFC 277, Nunes became a two-time UFC women’s bantamweight champion with a unanimous decision victory over Julianna Pena. With the win, Nunes has become the first fighter in UFC history to regain champ-champ status, as well as the first two-time UFC women’s bantamweight champion.
Nunes also scored an ounce of revenge. Pena defeated her via submission in one of the biggest upsets in UFC history at UFC 269 this past December for the bantamweight title.
Amanda Nunes recaptures gold and extends legacy, becomes bantamweight champ again by defeating Julianna Pena at UFC 277
Both women started the opening round slowly, feeling one another out. They traded basic shots and one-twos, though Nunes landed the more notable shots later in the round and scored with low kicks.
Nunes scored early in the second round, dropping Pena with a right hook before letting her up. Pena attempted to pressure Nunes with a flurry, as she did in the first fight, but Nunes caught her coming in with another strong strike to knock her down.
A straight left dropped Pena once more late in the second, though Pena landed a couple of shots in close before the horn.
Pena tried to fire back and throw combinations in the third round, but Nunes took Pena down and got into guard on top fairly quickly, where she pretty much dominated the rest of the round, busting Pena open.
Nunes went for a double-leg to start the fourth and threw up a guard. Pena pulled off a scare with an armbar attempt, only for Nunes to lock Pena in her own, but then Pena reversed and had her legs around Nunes’s neck. Nunes, however, was able to escape but remained on bottom. As Nunes landed elbows, Pena nearly trapped her in an armbar again. Pena took Nunes down once more.
By the end of this round, it was clear Nunes was tired.
Pena took Nunes down again to start the fifth and attempted a triangle armbar, but Nunes got around it and got a hold of Pena’s neck before the two went back to the feet. Seconds later, however, Nunes took Pena down. In the fight’s final minute, Nunes went for a rear-naked choke attempt. Pena was able to escape but could do nothing but defend as the seconds ticked down.
The judges scored the contest 50-45, 50-44 and 50-43.