Amanda Nunes Accepts Immediate Rematch With Julianna Pena
Just days after her shocking loss to Julianna Pena at UFC 269, former UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes is already thinking rematch.
Nunes got off to a strong start against Pena at UFC 269, rocking her with a big right hand that dropped her briefly in the first. But, Pena was able to push the pace in the second round and overwhelm Nunes with strikes, eventually getting the fight to the ground and getting the submission.
It was arguably the biggest UFC upset in the promotion’s history, and certainly the biggest in recent memory. After UFC president Dana White opened the doors to an immediate rematch during his post-fight presser, Nunes accepted the offer through a post on her Instagram page.
“You guys think I’m going to go out unbalanced,” Nunes said. “I undoubtedly accept the rematch. Give me a little time to get my s**t together and I will be back better than ever.”
Amanda Nunes Is Already Thinking About Her Return
Nunes’ loss to Pena was her first defeat since falling to Cat Zingano at UFC 178. She had won 12 fights in a row including earning the bantamweight and featherweight titles and becoming the first woman to defend both simultaneously.
In her octagon interview with Joe Rogan, Nunes mentioned how she felt “checked out” entering the fight, which could’ve impacted her performance. This had been her first bantamweight title defense in nearly two years, and her rivalry with Pena had been in the making for months.
It’s unclear how long Nunes will be out, as there are no reported injuries or health concerns stemming from her fight camp. But, there’s no question that something was off with her game at UFC 269, and a rematch could potentially show the return of the GOAT.
How do you think a Julianna Pena vs. Amanda Nunes rematch would go?
