LOS ANGELES – Usually, when a fighter knocks out another fighter in under a minute, the victor isn’t in much of a rush to granted the vanquished a rematch.
Amanda Nunes isn’t like other fighters, however. And for that matter, neither is Cris Cyborg.
Nunes scored a stunning 51-second knockout of Cyborg in their fight at UFC 232. The result was Cyborg’s first loss since 2005, and by adding what had been Cyborg’s featherweight title to her bantamweight crown, Nunes became the first women’s champ-champ in UFC history.
The women’s featherweight division, however, is the UFC’s shallowest class, regardless of gender. So that, in addition to Cyborg’s vast list of accomplishments, is why the current champ believes it makes sense to run things back sooner rather than later.
“I think this is the fight to make,” Nunes told MMA Junkie at Monday’s UFC 239 media day in downtown Los Angeles. “145 is bad right now – nobody in that division. Cyborg is always the most dominating woman on the planet if (she didn’t lose to me). That’s how it was, and she thinks she wants to prove something, but she knows she’s going to lose again. But I feel like she should make (the rematch).”
The way things have panned out, Nunes will defend her bantamweight belt against Holly Holm at UFC 239 on July 6 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, while Cyborg will meet Felicia Spencer in what amounts to a title eliminator at UFC 240.
Perhaps, after that, Nunes will get her wish.
“Something happened,” Nunes said. “But I’m ready for the UFC – I’m hoping they’ll have the rematch. For some reason, she is going to fight (Spencer instead of me) next. I don’t know why.”
For more on UFC 239, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
