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News, Blog and GuidesAfter defending her title vs Irene Aldana, the Brazilian superstar decides to leave the UFC as the reigning champion
Reem AbdalazemUpdate: Jun 11th, 2023 14:25 EDT
Sergei BelskiUSA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Amanda Nunes bids farewell to the UFC as an undisputed champion. Following her resounding unanimous decision victory over Irene Aldana at UFC 289 on Saturday night, the 35-year-old bantamweight champion announced her retirement from the sport.
Congrats to Amanda Nunes on completing a legendary career.She looked better in her final fight in 2023 than she did when she became a UFC Champion in 2016.She joins Georges St-Pierre and Khabib Nurmagomedov as the only fighters that retired on top. pic.twitter.com/s1dobbZWVR
— MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) June 11, 2023
Over the past nine years, Nunes has established herself as an unstoppable force in mixed martial arts. She has triumphed in 14 out of her last 15 bouts, including the recent victory against Aldana. During this dominant stretch, Nunes avenged her sole loss by reclaiming the bantamweight title in a thrilling rematch against Julianna Peña at UFC 277.
Despite boasting a Hall-of-Fame-worthy career and being widely regarded as arguably the best women’s fighter in UFC history, Nunes has faced questions about her motivation to continue competing at the highest level. UFC president Dana White openly expressed doubts about her drive before the rematch with Peña.
“Amanda is a multi-millionaire who is now at a completely different financial status,” White said 2022. She has a baby now. Her life – she is not that hungry savage she was when she started to take this run at becoming a world champion. A lot of that factors in.”
Nunes’ career speaks for itself
Nunes now joins an elite group of fighters who have held two titles simultaneously in UFC history: Conor McGregor (featherweight and lightweight) and Daniel Cormier (light heavyweight and heavyweight).
