UFC

Amanda Nunes' reign of dominance as UFC women's bantamweight champion came to a stunning end Saturday night at UFC 269 when she was submitted with a rear-naked choke by Julianna Pena in the second round. 

Speaking to Joe Rogan inside the octagon after the bout (starts at 40-second mark), Nunes explained she "just checked out" when Pena was able to submit her. 

Gracious in defeat, this isn't the last we will see of @Amanda_Leoa 🦁#UFC269 pic.twitter.com/NnRf1WC2zu

— UFC (@ufc) December 12, 2021

Nunes has been arguably the most dominant champion in UFC for the past five years. She won the title from Miesha Tate at UFC 200 in July 2016. 

Starting with that bout, Nunes had won nine consecutive title fights. Six of those victories came via stoppage by TKO or submission. She held the women's bantamweight and featherweight titles simultaneously for three years. 

Overall, Nunes had won 12 consecutive bouts. Her last loss prior to UFC 269 was against Cat Zingano at UFC 178 in September 2014. 

Ronda Rousey's final UFC bout to date was a first-round TKO at the hands of Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. 

Per Timothy Finnegan of DKNation.com, Nunes listed as a -1000 favorite (bet $1000 to win $100) to retain the bantamweight crown against Pena by DraftKings. 

Nunes still holds the featherweight championship. She most recently defended the 145-pound title against Megan Anderson in March. 

The Brazilian superstar is one of four fighters in UFC history to hold two titles simultaneously. Conor McGregor (men's featherweight, lightweight), Daniel Cormier (heavyweight, light-heavyweight) and Henry Cejudo (bantamweight, flyweight) previously accomplished the feat. 

Pena was just 2-2 in her previous four fights before Saturday's pay-per-view. She had never been in a championship match until squaring off with Nunes.    

Julianna Pena absolutely stunned the fighting world Saturday night, beating the legendary Amanda Nunes by second-round submission at UFC 269. 

The only person who wasn't taken aback by the result was Pena herself. 

"I'm not surprised, motherf--ker!" she said in the Octagon following the win. 

The result snapped Nunes 12-fight winning streak, with her last loss coming against Cat Zingano in 2014 at UFC 178. She had defended her bantamweight title five times and picked up the featherweight title along the way, defending it twice. 

In her incredible run, Nunes beat some of the biggest names in the history of women's MMA, including Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg and Holly Holm. The 33-year-old had rightfully earned her place as the most dominant female fighter in history, and one of the most decorated UFC fighters period. 

Doing what Nunes did - standing at the top of the weight class and welcoming contenders one after the next - is the most difficult thing to do in UFC. And she did it better than any other woman ever.

Dominance is hard to maintain in elite MMA. Power changes hands all the time.

— Luke Thomas🏋️‍♀️ (@lthomasnews) December 12, 2021

Pena, meanwhile, is 11-4 in her career and was fighting in her first UFC title match. She'd already lost to Valentina Shevchenko and Germaine de Randamie. There's no doubt her time was coming, but to take down the GOAT was another thing entirely. 

So yes, Saturday's result was a stunner.

The shock of the century! The biggest upset in UFC history!

🏆 @VenezuelanVixen has defeated Amanda Nunes to become the NEW bantamweight champion! #UFC269 pic.twitter.com/EIIAO1GBWU

— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) December 12, 2021

JULIANNA PENA DOES IT!

SHE BEATS THE GOAT!

Incredible heart shown by Pena to stand in the pocket and swing with Nunes.

Unbelievable turn of events.

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) December 12, 2021

PENA ISN’T EVEN CELEBRATING. SHE IS STONE COLD. THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST UPSETS IN UFC HISTORY. NUNES WAS A -1100.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 12, 2021

Julianna Pena submits Amanda Nunes, who taps out with Pena on her back! Nunes completely lost her game plan and her mojo in the 2nd round #UFC269

— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) December 12, 2021

She didn’t just beat Nunes. She didn’t even have hooks in. She broke Nunes. We live in bizzaro world, now. #UFC269

— Shayna Baszler (@QoSBaszler) December 12, 2021

Well, at least to everyone outside of the Octagon. Nunes didn't seem particularly shocked by Pena's performance either.

"I knew she was a warrior, I knew she was going to come forward. I know she can get hit and still keep coming forward," Nunes told Joe Rogan in a post-match interview in the Octagon. "I just today, like... checked out."

Gracious in defeat, this isn't the last we will see of @Amanda_Leoa 🦁#UFC269 pic.twitter.com/NnRf1WC2zu

— UFC (@ufc) December 12, 2021

Let this be a lesson to the rest of the women in the UFC—do not check out against Pena. Granted, they may have to wait their turn, as a rematch between Nunes and Pena seems very likely after Saturday's wild result.  

Julianna Pena officially etched her name in the UFC history books with a stunning second-round submission upset win over Amanda Nunes to win the women's bantamweight title in the co-main event of UFC 269 from Las Vegas. 

After getting the better of the champion with her jab in the second round she took down the champ and sank in a rear-naked choke that earned her the belt. 

The fight started with a pretty grappling-heavy flavor. While the ground game was potentially Pena's best chance to win on paper, it was a strong round for the Lioness. She maintained dominant position throughout the round and successfully defended Pena's Kimura attempt at the end of the round. 

It is all Amanda here in round 1️⃣

[ @Amanda_Leoa | #UFC269 ] pic.twitter.com/GcyCYgmbOi

— UFC (@ufc) December 12, 2021

The next round didn't go so well for the now-former champion. Pena's upset bid was officially in business from the sounding of the second bell. She got in Nunes' face and refused to relent.

Pena utilized a pesky jab to keep the pressure on the Lioness as the two got into a slugfest. That kind of fight favored Pena, and it looked like she may score a knockout victory. 

WE'VE GOT A FIGHT 👊 #UFC269 pic.twitter.com/8c1JfgkJSO

— UFC (@ufc) December 12, 2021

Instead, she opted for a takedown and quickly went to work on a rear-naked choke. Seconds later, Nunes was tapping and the division got a new champion for the first time since 2016. 

JULIANNA PEÑA JUST SUBMITTED AMANDA NUNES!

A UFC UPSET FOR THE AGES 🤯

🎥 @ufc | #UFC269pic.twitter.com/5PcRnYnTQT

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 12, 2021

The Venezuelan Vixen has been calling for a fight against Nunes for quite some time. As it turns out, that confidence carried her in a big way come fight night. 

This is among the most shocking upsets in UFC title fight history. For context, Holly Holm was +850 (bet $100 to win $850) when she pulled off her upset win over Ronda Rousey. DraftKings Sportsbook had Pena's odds against Nunes at +650. 

Pena as the champion opens the doors for lots of former challengers who had been shut out by Nunes, but the first order of business is likely to be an immediate rematch. That's the standard operating procedure for a champion of her caliber. 

The new champ already addressed it before her UFC 269 win. 

"Yes, (there will be) an immediate rematch," Pena told the media on Thursday. "And when I win that fight, I will be 11-2 in the division, which is a better bantamweight record in the history of the bantamweight division. As far as walking up to 145 (for a second belt), I don't know, I'm pretty comfortable in knowing that 135 is my proper weight class. But we can cross that bridge when we get there." 

With Pena now proving her fire for this fight was enough to score the win, that's a fight that would carry a lot of intrigue for fans. 

Now that Pena is the champ, she can put an exclamation point on the rivalry with a second win. 

Dustin Poirier said his rivalry with Conor McGregor is a chapter of his career that "will never be closed."

Poirier, who will face off with lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in a title fight at UFC 269 on Saturday night, told TMZ Sports he can't rule out another clash with McGregor in the future.

"I don't know [about a fourth fight], we'll see what happens," he said. "[Conor and I are] in two completely different spots if I get my hand on this belt."

Poirier heads into Saturday's championship bout off two straight victories over McGregor in January and July. Both wins came via TKO.

It gave the 32-year-old American a 2-1 advantage in his rivalry with the 33-year-old Irishman, who won their first career meeting in September 2014 by knockout.

As Poirier alluded, what happens next is heavily dependent on whether he's able to overcome Oliveira to become a full-time UFC title-holder for the first time. He previously held the interim belt for five months in 2019 before losing a unification bout to Khabib Nurmagomedov.

If he becomes the new champ, he'll have a host of challengers waiting for the opportunity to face him, starting with a potential rematch against Oliveira. McGregor, who's lost three of his last four fights, probably won't be in the conversation for a title chance.

Should "The Diamond" fall short against Oliveira, however, then the door to a fourth McGregor matchup could open since their rivalry has proved it can still be a ratings draw.

"The Notorious" suffered a broken tibia in their last meeting and is still in the recovery stages. He wrote on Twitter last month he expects to receive full clearance by April and at that point would be looking at an "imminent" return to the Octagon.

That timeline would create a path to another clash with Poirier, but there are too many variables in play to predict whether that's a realistic outcome at this stage.

For now, Poirier is focused on what should be a competitive, entertaining battle with Oliveira on Saturday night.

Welcome back to TGIFighting, where we talk to top fighters, preview the weekend's combat sports action and make crotchety observations about the combat sports news of the day. Ready? Let's proceed.

           

This Saturday in the main event of UFC 269 in Las Vegas, lightweight champion Charles Oliveira makes his first title defense against longtime belt-hunter Dustin Poirier.

Generally speaking, fight fans are better acquainted with Poirier, thanks to his two superbouts with Conor McGregor and 12 bonus-winning performances spread over a decadelong UFC career. But hardcore fans know all about Oliveira, who has a long UFC tenure of his own, not to mention the company record for career submission wins with 14.

As of Thursday, according to DraftKings, the champ is a +135 underdog to defend his title. I recently asked Oliveira about being an underdog and plenty more. The exchange has been edited for length and clarity.

          

Bleacher Report: How did life change for you after you won the belt? 

Oliveira: Life changed completely. I have more fans now; more people know me. It has changed everything. I've dreamed about this my whole life, so I won't pretend like I don't like it. It doesn't bother me at all. On the contrary; I enjoy it.

I just have to keep humble, keep my feet on the ground and just keep moving forward. I know where I can go and what I can still do.

     

B/R: As UFC 269 approaches, what do you want fans to know about you and about your preparation for this fight?

Oliveira: I just want to tell them they can trust me. I'm ready, and I was born for this.

         

B/R: Despite being champion, you're still an underdog to Poirier. Do you think people look past you?

Oliveira: I don't really care about the betting odds. I respect Poirier. I respect his story. But I'm the champion, and I'll show that on Saturday.

     

B/R: Poirier is good on the ground, but on paper you have an advantage there. Are you going to shoot for takedowns to get the fight to the mat?

Oliveira: All fighters have good fights and bad fights, but we're all MMA fighters. So I'm ready for anything. I'm ready to fight him on the ground or standing up. I feel like everyone has seen how much I've grown since the past. I'm a complete athlete, and I will win this fight.

      

B/R: You've been in the UFC since 2010. That's a long time. Every fight is important, but is there a fight that meant the most to you and your growth as a fighter?

Oliveira: Like you said, I've had an extensive career. Every fight has taught me something. I would say my last defeat [to Paul Felder in 2017] was where everything changed for me. It sort of flipped a switch. I became a different athlete after that.

       

B/R: The lightweight division is stacked right now. When you're watching the UFC as a fan, who jumps out at you?

Oliveira: Many of them, actually. Dustin is very fun to watch. Edson Barboza is another. But there are many great athletes in the division … Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje just put on a war. Both men came forward and did what they came there to do.

     

B/R: What do you like to do after a win?

Oliveira: Actually, I just want to go back home. I want to go back to my family and my team and all those people who've supported me along the way and celebrate with them. So, yeah. I just want to go back home.

      

Kayla Harrison UFC-Bound?

If women's GOAT Amanda Nunes takes care of business Saturday against massive underdog Julianna Pena, her post-fight interview could be interesting.

News broke Wednesday that Kayla Harrison is in talks to move to the UFC. The two-time Olympic gold medalist is also a two-time winner of the Professional Fighters League $1 million tournament. Harrison, who is a perfect 12-0 in MMA competition, has mostly competed at 155 pounds. The UFC doesn't have a women's lightweight division, meaning she'd have to move down to featherweight, where Nunes is champion.

Just spoke to Dana White and he confirmed that the UFC are having conversations with Kayla Harrison's team.

He believes that there is only one way to find out whether Harrison can be considered the best in the world and that's for her to join the UFC and face Amanda Nunes.

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) December 8, 2021

Harrison competed once at 145 pounds and told ESPN's Brett Okamoto that a featherweight move is "in my future," so it might just be a matter of dollars and cents.

At the risk of stating the obvious, Nunes-Harrison is the biggest women's MMA fight out there. While Bellator and a date with Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino also remains a possibility, there's no question where the biggest glamor matchup lies.

       

The Squeamish Bettor

Record to date: 25-8

Light heavyweight Jamahal Hill cashed last week as an underdog to Jimmy Crute. Although he's known for that gnarly arm injury, after knocking out a respected young competitor in just 48 seconds, Hill is one to reckon with at 205 pounds.

For UFC 269, we go to the deep undercard, where two submission aces square off. Per DraftKings, Ryan Hall is a -200 favorite to defeat Darrick Minner, a veteran who has a checkered record against true elites but still has garnered 22 submission wins.

Hall's on another level, though. Although he has "only" three submission wins, he looks brilliant whenever the action hits the mat. His striking is a little, shall we say, calcified, but that won't be an issue against Minner like it was in Hall's last match, a knockout loss to hard-hitting Ilia Topuria.

Mark me down for Hall winning a chess match, keeping Minner under wraps for a clear if conservative win.

              

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Two-time Olympic gold medalist and PFL lightweight champion Kayla Harrison has looked like the most dominant female MMA fighter in the game right now, and UFC president Dana White reportedly is hoping to test that theory.

Aaron Bronsteter of TSN reports that White said the UFC is having contract discussions with Harrison's representatives.

Bronsteter went on to say that White "believes that there is only one way to find out whether Harrison can be considered the best in the world and that's for her to join the UFC and face Amanda Nunes."

Nunes is the UFC bantamweight and featherweight champion and is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time. She is scheduled to defend her bantamweight title against Julianna Pena in the co-main event of UFC 269 this Saturday.

Harrison has a 12-0 MMA record with stoppage wins in each of her last five fights. She won the PFL lightweight tournament for the second time in her career in October. She is currently a free agent.

Harrison is sure to have a lot of suitors courting her to sign with their promotion, and she has a ton of options. Remaining with PFL gives her the chance to continue dominating, considering it is the only major promotion to feature a women's lightweight division.

If Harrison were to sign with the UFC or Bellator MMA, she would have to commit to fighting at featherweight full-time. Harrison did a test cut to 145 pounds in November 2020 for a one-off fight for Invicta FC, proving that she can make the weight comfortably. The question is whether or not she can make weight in that class consistently.

Signing with Bellator will present Harrison with a marquee matchup against featherweight champion Crys Cyborg, who is up there with Nunes as one of the best female fighters ever. Cyborg sarcastically responded to Bronsteter's report on Twitter, saying, "UFC should have no problem finding value in matching her highest offer, however, she’s probably already making more than Nunes."

But Nunes is the greatest, and if Harrison wants to be recognized as such she would have to sign with the UFC and face her former training partner. Both Harrison and Nunes train out of American Top Team in Florida, but they stopped training together when it became apparent that a fight between them was an inevitability.

Nunes last defended her featherweight title in March against Megan Anderson in a one-sided performance, winning by first-round submission. The UFC has lacked true featherweight challengers for Nunes for a long time now, and signing Harrison would immediately change that.