Tag: UFC 289

Amanda Nunes’ UFC retirement will bring an end to the women’s featherweight division

Amanda NunesAs Amanda Nunes rides off into the sunset, the women’s featherweight world title will likely do the same. On Saturday night, ‘The Lioness’ added another dominant title defense to her resume, besting top-five contender Irene Aldana in decisive fashion over the course of their 25-minute affair. Following the one-sided scrap, Amanda Nunes laid down both […]

Amanda Nunes

As Amanda Nunes rides off into the sunset, the women’s featherweight world title will likely do the same.

On Saturday night, ‘The Lioness’ added another dominant title defense to her resume, besting top-five contender Irene Aldana in decisive fashion over the course of their 25-minute affair. Following the one-sided scrap, Amanda Nunes laid down both her bantamweight and featherweight world titles alongside her gloves and officially announced her retirement from the sport after 15 years of excellence.

As she walks away from the sport, Amanda Nunes will leave behind two title belts. The bantamweight title, which she defended against Aldana in the UFC 289 main event, will likely find a new owner before 2023 comes to a close. The likeliest scenario would see former titleholder Julianna Pena squaring off with veteran standout Raquel Pennington to crown a new 135-pound queen. As for the featherweight title, don’t expect to see it on the line anytime soon. Or ever again, for that matter.

Addressing Amanda Nunes’ retirement following UFC 289, Dana White wished the general consensus women’s MMA GOAT well in her future endeavors.

“Would I like to see her stick around and do some more? Absolutely! I love the kid. She’s been incredible to work with, she’s such a good human being and a great champion… But if she’s ready to go, you’ve got to be happy for her,” White said.

White also revealed that the women’s featherweight world title belt will likely ride off into the sunset with Amanda Nunes.

A Brief History of Amanda Nunes and the UFC Women’s Featherweight Division

The women’s featherweight championship was first introduced in 2017 with Germaine de Randamie defeating Holly Holm to become the division’s inaugural champion at UFC 208. Four months later, de Randamie was stripped of the title after refusing to defend the championship against top-ranked contender Cris Cyborg. The UFC would go on to book a title tilt between Cyborg and Tonya Evinger at UFC 214, a contest that Cyborg would go on to win, beginning a 517 reign at the 145-pound queen.

Amanda Nunes captured the title at UFC 232, defeating Cyborg in the first round of their champion vs. champion superfight. She went on to defend the title twice during her reign which lasted more than four and a half years. Unfortunately, the featherweight division failed to produce an adequate amount of viable contenders. Its only purpose in recent years was to market Nunes as a two-division champion, but with her retirement, there’s no reason to keep the practically empty division alive.

Julianna Pena takes credit for scaring Amanda Nunes into retirement: ‘WTF was that?’

Julianna PenaIt didn’t take long for Julianna Pena to comment on the retirement of Amanda Nunes. ‘The Lioness’ headlined Saturday’s UFC 289 pay-per-view in the Great White North, handily defeating bantamweight title challenger Irene Aldana over the course of 25 minutes. Following the matchup, Nunes laid down her two world title belts alongside her gloves and […]

Julianna Pena

It didn’t take long for Julianna Pena to comment on the retirement of Amanda Nunes.

‘The Lioness’ headlined Saturday’s UFC 289 pay-per-view in the Great White North, handily defeating bantamweight title challenger Irene Aldana over the course of 25 minutes. Following the matchup, Nunes laid down her two world title belts alongside her gloves and announced that she is officially retiring from mixed martial arts. Her announcement immediately got the attention of two-time Nunes opponent, Julianna Pena.

The ‘Venezuelan Vixen’ was originally tipped to be Nunes’ challenger at UFC 289, but an injury sustained while training forced her to withdraw. Upon realizing that she will never get the chance to complete her trilogy with Nunes, Pena took to Twitter and suggested that Nunes was running off into the sunset before having to step inside the Octagon with her one more time.

“I scared you so bad into retirement,” Pena tweeted. “Personally, Congratulations. Professionally, wtf was that? #UFC289”

Is Julianna Pena vs. Raquel Pennington the Fight to Make?

Amanda Nunes ends her illustrious career going 16-2 inside the Octagon, her only losses coming against Cat Zingano in 2014 and the aforementioned Julianna Pena at UFC 269 in January 2021. Seven months later, ‘The Lioness’ reclaimed her bantamweight title from Pena, setting the stage for a trilogy bout that will never come to fruition.

With the women’s bantamweight world title now vacated, it opens the door for Julianna Pena to slide right in and challenge for the title against a new opponent. Who that will be is yet to be determined, but the likeliest scenario would see Raquel Pennington step in to fight for the vacant championship. Pennington served as the official backup for UFC 289’s main event between Nunes and Aldana.

Islam Makhachev scoffs at Charles Oliveira’s title rematch call after UFC 289 win: ‘There’s still levels to to this’

Islam Makhachev scoffs at Charles Oliveira rematch calls UFC 289 there's levles to thisReacting to former champion, Charles Oliveira’s spectacular finish of Beneil Dariush in the co-main event of UFC 289 tonight, Islam Makhachev has issued a stark reminder to the Brazilian – who immediately called for a title rematch. Co-headlining UFC 289 in Vancouver, Canada tonight, Oliveira, the current #1 ranked lightweight contender, and former undisputed champion, […]

Islam Makhachev scoffs at Charles Oliveira rematch calls UFC 289 there's levles to this

Reacting to former champion, Charles Oliveira’s spectacular finish of Beneil Dariush in the co-main event of UFC 289 tonight, Islam Makhachev has issued a stark reminder to the Brazilian – who immediately called for a title rematch.

Co-headlining UFC 289 in Vancouver, Canada tonight, Oliveira, the current #1 ranked lightweight contender, and former undisputed champion, rebounded to the winner’s enclosure in highlight-reel fashion.

Adding Kings MMA staple, Dariush to his incredible winning résumé, Charles Oliveira managed to stop the former with a slew of opening round ground strikes in an electric opening round back-and-forth.

Islam Makhachev issues reminder to Charles Oliveira after UFC 289

And calling his shot for a title rematch with Russian grappling sensation, Makhachev later this year at UFC 294 in October, Oliveira, who suffered a defeat to the former last year – was reminded of that result, in fact.

“Congrats Charles (Oliveira),” Islam Makhachev tweeted. “But still there’s levels in this game (sunglasses emoji).”

Headlining UFC 280 against American Kickboxing Academy staple, Makhachev in October of last year, Oliveira suffered a second round arm-triangle submission loss to the former in the pair’s vacant title fight.

Yet to be booked for his expected Octagon return in October following a prior successful title defense against featherweight kingpin, Alexander Volkanovski in February, Makhachev has been tipped to return at UFC 294.

And while remaining non-committal on a title rematch with Makhachev should Oliveira win at UFC 289, the Sao Paulo finishing phenom certainly left promotional president, Dana White with a lot to stew in following his stunning stoppage of Dariush in ‘The Great White North.

Amanda Nunes retains title in lackluster fight, confirms retirement from MMA – UFC 289 Highlights

Amanda Nunes‘The Lioness’ Amanda Nunes returned to the Octagon on Saturday night for a bantamweight world title showdown in the UFC 289 main event. Nunes set out to defend her 135-pound crown against No. 5 ranked bantamweight contender Irene Aldana inside the Rogers Center in Vancouver. Irene Aldana struggled to find any offense in the opening […]

Amanda Nunes

‘The Lioness’ Amanda Nunes returned to the Octagon on Saturday night for a bantamweight world title showdown in the UFC 289 main event. Nunes set out to defend her 135-pound crown against No. 5 ranked bantamweight contender Irene Aldana inside the Rogers Center in Vancouver.

Irene Aldana struggled to find any offense in the opening round as Nunes asserted her dominance and peppered her opponent with a variety of strikes. Near the four-minute mark of the first round, Nunes got a little overzealous and moved in allowing Aldana to land a solid right that caused a small cut near Nunes’ left eye. While it was arguably the best strike of the round, Aldana’s lack of activity likely lost her the first five minutes.

Rounds two and three saw ‘The Lioness’ continue to land strikes at will as Aldana simply could not find an opening to unleash her hands. In the third, Nunes, opted to mix it up, using her wrestling skills to forcefully take Aldana to the mat on multiple occasions. Clearly down three rounds at this point, Aldana was strongly encouraged by her corner to move forward and let her hands go. Aldana attempted to do just that in the fourth, but her offense was still stagnant as Nunes looked sharp as ever.

With her victory all, but certain, Amanda Nunes took things to the ground in the opening moments of the fifth round. Nunes kept her opponent’s back pinned to the mat through the final five minutes, putting an exclamation point on an incredibly dominant performance inside the Octagon.

Official Result: Amanda Nunes def. Irene Aldana via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-43)

Following the contest, Amanda Nunes laid down both of her UFC championships along with her gloves and officially announced that she will be retiring from the sport of mixed martial arts.

Check Out Highlights From Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana at UFC 289 Below:

Charles Oliveira scores first round TKO win over Beneil Dariush in thrilling co main event – UFC 289 Highlights

Charles Oliveira stops Beneil Dariush with first round TKO at UFC 289Former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira has rebounded to the winner’s enclosure at the first time of trying following his vacant title challenge loss last October — stopping the surge of Beneil Dariush with a first round slew of ground strikes in the co-headliner of UFC 289 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Returning to the […]

Charles Oliveira stops Beneil Dariush with first round TKO at UFC 289

Former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira has rebounded to the winner’s enclosure at the first time of trying following his vacant title challenge loss last October — stopping the surge of Beneil Dariush with a first round slew of ground strikes in the co-headliner of UFC 289 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Returning to the Octagon for the first time since he was submitted by Islam Makhachev in their vacant lightweight title fight in October of last year in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sao Paulo grappler, Oliveira entertained a lot of grappling exchanges and scrambles with Iranian technician, Dariush in the opening round of their UFC 289 title-eliminator.

Pulling guard and working from the bottom with both strike and submission attempts, Oliveira, the most prolific finisher in Octagon antiquity, racked up finish number 20 on the feet, wobbling Dariush with a right high kick and then swarming with strikes.

Dropping the Kings MMA staple to the canvas at the Octagon fence, Oliveira then laid out Dariush with a slew of ground strikes, eventually knocking the former unconscious — before calling for an immediate title rematch with the above-mentioned, Makhachev.

Catch the highlights from Charles Oliveira’s win over Beneil Dariush at UFC 289

Chris Curtis vs. Nassourdine Imavov ruled a no contest following second-round clash of heads – UFC 289 Highlights

Chris CurtisChris Curtis was unable to see following an accidental clash of heads in his featured prelim bout with Nassourdine Imavov at UFC 289 on Saturday night. ‘Action Man’ returned to the Great White North intent on getting back into the win column after coming up short against Kelvin Gastelum in his last outing. In the […]

Chris Curtis

Chris Curtis was unable to see following an accidental clash of heads in his featured prelim bout with Nassourdine Imavov at UFC 289 on Saturday night.

‘Action Man’ returned to the Great White North intent on getting back into the win column after coming up short against Kelvin Gastelum in his last outing. In the early going, things were not going well for Curtis who struggled to close the distance against the much taller and lengthier Imavov. The first round saw Imavov put his wrestling skills to work, muscling Curtis down to the canvas and narrowly locking in a rear-naked choke as the first round came to a close.

Round two saw both fighters on their feet and exchanging strikes, but as Imavov moved in to clinch Curtis against the fence, their heads clashed with Curtis getting the worst of it. The referee immediately paused the action as Curtis began bleeding over his right eye. After a few minutes, Curtis could be heard repeatedly explaining that he could not see. As a result, Jason Herzog called a stop to the action and dubbed the bout a no-contest due to an accidental clash of heads.

Official Result: Chris Curtis vs. Nassourdine Imavov is ruled a no-contest following an accidental headbutt at 3:04 of Round 2.

Check Out Highlights From Chris Curtis vs. Nassourdine Imavov at UFC 289 Below: