LAS VEGAS — UFC President Dana White has seen it all in mixed martial arts and after UFC 239 Saturday night, he added another name to the list of all-time greats.
Amanda Nunes.
“She reminds me of all the best we’ve had before,” said White, after Nunes’s first round, head kick knockout of Holly Holm at the T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas.
“This woman is unbelievable and so tough. Nunes has fought all the best in the world and destroyed them. Pound-for-pound one of the greatest of all-time.”
The win against Holm was the Brazilian’s fourth title defence of her bantamweight title and she still holds the featherweight championship, the first and only female fighter in the promotion’s history to hold two-belts simultaneously.
At UFC 232 in December 2018 is where “The Lioness” rewrote the record books to become the double-champ, when she stunned the MMA world with a first round knockout of Cris Cyborg, who had a 13-year unbeaten run.
All that was left for the 31-year-old was a matchup with “The Preacher’s Daughter.”
“I told my coaches I wanted to knock her out the same way she knocks people out and I did tonight,” said Nunes, to Joe Rogan inside the octagon in her post-fight interview.
“I knew I was going to get her. She was the only former champion I didn’t beat yet. Now, I beat her and I’m very happy.”
https://twitter.com/FightingMatrix/status/1147714783493414912
Nunes and Holm share the unique trait of being the only two fighters to defeat Ronda Rousey, the UFC’s first female champion and superstar before losing first to Holm at UFC 193.
The 37-year-old ended Rousey’s run the same way in which she lost Saturday night, a brutal head-kick knockout.
With Holm now beaten, the Salvador, Brazil native knows exactly what she wants moving forward.
“I definitely want to defend my 145 pound belt next.”
Mission accomplished. Thank you everyone for all the positive energy. Missão cuprida obrigada a todos. 🦁 pic.twitter.com/ruIEJTBdf4
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) July 7, 2019
Usually the UFC boss is reluctant to give that opportunity away and has forced two others in the past to relinquish one of their titles.
For Nunes, White is willing to make the exception and it could be for a possible rematch.
“She’s [Nunes] got no injuries, I just saw her in the back and she’s in a great mood,” said White. “We’re willing to make the Cyborg rematch, Amanda wants that but if not there’s always somebody else.”