Double champion Amanda Nunes rules out taking a fight against Holly Holm at the upcoming UFC 237 card.
No more rumors about whether or not Amanda Nunes will be at UFC 237.
After some speculation concerning the ‘Lioness’ taking on former bantamweight champion Holly Holm at the upcoming Rio de Janeiro card, Nunes herself finally revealed to Combate that she is dealing with some personal issues in Brazil and will not perform at the event.
According to the 30-year-old, there simply is not enough time to handle her problems and still properly prepare for a title fight on May 11, so instead, Nunes hopes she could get back in the Octagon only by the end of 2019.
“It would be difficult. I’m thinking about fighting by the end of the year, in November or December,” Nunes said. “Now, I’m here in Brazil dealing with some family issues, I wouldn’t have time to properly prepare for a fight in May.”
Although Nunes ruled out fighting at the upcoming Brazil card, she did not backpedal on taking on Holly Holm, the only former bantamweight champion she didn’t face yet. In fact, Amanda would like to defend her title one last time and then concede a rematch to Cris Cyborg before retiring.
“First I want to defend my belt because I left my division hanging when I moved up,” Nunes said. “I think it makes sense for me to fight Holm, the only former champion I didn’t face yet. Afterwards, I think a rematch with Cyborg would be cool, then I’ll quit. I don’t even know how many fights I have left, we’ll renegotiate after my next one. I think I’ll fight twice more and retire. If I feel like it, I’ll fight again.”
Most recently, Amanda Nunes dethroned featherweight titlist Cris Cyborg via knockout back in December to become the first UFC women’s double champion, with a victory that extended her current win streak to eight in a row. Nunes hasn’t lost September 2014, when she lost to Cat Zingano via TKO, her sole Octagon defeat.