(WE’VE EARNED THIS!!!!)
Fresh off a 14-second flying armbar victory over some broad at a UFC Fan Expo, Cat Zingano finally has her return fight booked. The former #1 contender will take on hard-hitting Amanda Nunes on September 29th at UFC 178: Jones vs. Gustafsson II, which despite having just 4 fights booked, is already more stacked than any PPV card we will see before or after it (*laughs, then cries into whiskey glass*).
Zingano’s placement on the card seems both highly fitting, given that UFC 178 will also feature the return of Dominick Cruz from *his* ACL/groin injury, and a hell of a gamble on the UFC’s part, if you ask me. Oh well, I’m sure everything will work out fine.
The fight will be the first in what has been an emotionally and physically trying 18 months for Zingano, who has been forced to deal with both the ACL injury that removed her from the title picture and the unexpected and shocking suicide of her husband/coach, Mauricio. Should she defeat Nunes in triumphant fashion, expect a Lifetime movie at the very minimum to be made in “Alpha’s” honor — something like Not Without My 4 oz. Gloves or Uncaged Passion: The Cat Zingano Story.
Nunes has also been out of action for a significant, albeit much shorter period of time than Zingano as well. After kickstarting her UFC career with two decisive first round TKOs in 2013, Nunes was offered the chance to fill in for an injured Shayna Baszler against former title challenger Sarah Kaufman at the TUF Nations Finale back in April. She accepted, only to be similarly struck down with a dislocated thumb five days later. The Zingano fight will make for her first since November of last year.
Will Zingano pick up where she left off? Or will Nunes prove to be the next challenger worthy of a Ronda Rousey ass-whippin’? Will we ever stop inserting this video of Zingano stretching into every last post about her, no matter how unnecessary it is? Tune into UFC 178 to find out! (except for that last question, the answer to which is no.)