By Cassandra Cousineau of LVSportsBiz.com
In maybe the best upset in girls’s MMA historical past, Julianna Peña shocked the world to defeat Amanda Nunes for the UFC bantamweight title in entrance of 18,471 followers at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas Saturday night time.
Ever because the combat was introduced in the summertime, Peña swore to anybody who would hear that she would dominate Nunes. Though the now former champ had moments throughout the first spherical, the combat was largely managed by the putting of Peña. The end got here at 3 minutes, 26 seconds, after Peña harm Nunes on the toes, she took her to the canvass, and completed her with a rear-naked choke at UFC 269.
A heavy underdog main into the combat, Peña was +600 by Las Vegas sportsbooks with Nunes as excessive as -1,300. Stations Casinos had a prop guess for Peña to win in spherical two at 30-1. Peña snapped Nunes’ 12-fight win streak and is the primary lady to defeat Nunes since September 2014.
“Don’t ever doubt me once more. Willpower, energy and dedication will take you locations,” UFC’s latest lady champion mentioned.
Nunes was gracious in defeat: “Congratulations to Julianna. She’s a warrior and I do know that the entire time. I’m gonna return to the gymnasium, practice laborious, and are available again robust. Thanks everyone. Blissful Holidays. Blissful New Yr.”
ADVERTISEMENT: Click on advert for information
ADVERTISEMENT
Peña was dropped twice within the first spherical and needed to battle Nunes off her again in its remaining minutes. She got here out within the second resolved to go toe-to-toe along with her opponent and located success touchdown important photographs. “I’m nonetheless in shock,” the brand new bantamweight champion mentioned.
Lvsportsbiz.com requested the Washington state native if UFC should create a “Baddest Mother On The Planet” belt for her.
She mentioned sure, however provided am attention-grabbing tackle Nunes’ motherhood: “I’m not making an attempt to take something away from Amanda Nunes, she’s an exquisite mom, however I gave delivery to my daughter. I really feel like for giving delivery I’m the primary mother champ.”
Nunes and her spouse Nina are overtly homosexual athletes who welcomed their first youngster in 2020.
