Amanda Nunes Explains Why She Won’t Fight Until Later This Year

Amanda Nunes explains why she won’t fight when it was reported that she would and the reason behind her decision.

Earlier this month it was reported that the UFC was at booking the two-division champion against Holly Holm at the upcoming UFC 237 pay-per-view event.

The UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion made it known in an interview with Combate that she won’t compete at this show due to some family things going on at the time. Thus, she’s looking to make her return in November or December.

“It will be tough,” Nunes said. “I’m thinking about fighting in the end of the year, around November or December. I’m in Brazil now, taking care of family things, wouldn’t have time to get prepared for May.”

“I want to defend my [bantamweight] belt first, because when I moved up, I left the division stalled,” Nunes said. “I think it makes sense that the next fight is against Holly Holm, the only ex-champion I haven’t faced. After, I think it would be cool to rematch Cyborg. And then I’ll stop. I don’t know how many fights I have left; after the next one we’ll renegotiate. I think I have to do two more and retire. And if I have the itch to come back, I will.”

The UFC 237 pay-per-view event is set to take place on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. The main card will air on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET. The preliminary card will air on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET and the the UFC’s streaming service, Fight Pass.