Amanda Nunes’ Lioness Legacy
On July 9, 2016, Amanda Nunes submitted Miesha Tate with a first-round rear-naked choke at UFC 200 in Las Vegas to win the UFC women’s bantamweight championship. That breakthrough began the most important championship stretch of “The Lioness’s” career. She later added featherweight gold, becoming the first woman to hold two UFC titles simultaneously.
From Bahia to the UFC
Amanda Nunes grew up in Bahia, Brazil, and began training in martial arts as a child. She made her professional MMA debut in 2008 and joined the UFC in 2013. A powerful striker with a dangerous ground game, Nunes developed into a two-division champion and one of the most accomplished fighters in women’s MMA.
Champion at bantamweight and featherweight
Nunes won the bantamweight title by defeating Miesha Tate at UFC 200 in 2016. She added the featherweight championship with a first-round knockout of Cris Cyborg at UFC 232 in 2018, becoming the first woman to hold UFC titles in two divisions at the same time. Her championship wins also include victories over Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, and Valentina Shevchenko.
After losing the bantamweight belt to Julianna Peña in 2021, Nunes regained it in their 2022 rematch with a unanimous decision. She retained the title against Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023, then announced her retirement and left the championship vacant. Nunes was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Modern Wing as part of the Class of 2025.
Return fight against Kayla Harrison
Nunes is set to return against bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison, a former teammate. Their title fight was first scheduled for UFC 324 in January 2026, but Harrison withdrew for neck surgery. The UFC rebooked the matchup for UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden in New York on November 14, 2026. The bout remains scheduled for November 14, and Nunes has not competed since her 2023 retirement fight.
The matchup brings together a two-division Hall of Famer and an Olympic gold medalist who recently won the bantamweight title. Nunes’ return will be her first fight in more than three years, giving the long-awaited contest added significance for both fighters and the division.
Sources
- UFC: Nunes wins the title against Tate
- UFC: Nunes fight history
- UFC: Nunes Hall of Fame profile
- UFC: Harrison–Nunes announcement for UFC 334
Article Tags
Amanda Nunes, Miesha Tate, Cris Cyborg, Julianna Peña, Irene Aldana, Kayla Harrison, UFC
