Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Jul 29, 2022 9:18 pm

Amanda Nunes aims for revenge against Julianna Pena at UFC 277

A pair of title fight rematches headline Saturday night’s UFC 277 in Dallas.

The main event at American Airlines Center is a runback of one of the most shocking results in UFC history, as bantamweight champion Julianna Pena (11-4) of Spokane, Wash. puts her newly won crown on the line against featherweight titleholder Amanda Nunes (21-5) of Brazil.

Widely regarded as the greatest women’s fighter in MMA history, Nunes had not lost a fight for more than seven years when she stepped into the Octagon as a dual champion and huge favorite to meet Pena at UFC 269. The odds did not deter Pena, who overcame a slow first round before pouring it on in the second and claiming the title via rear-naked choke submission.

Nunes has chalked up the loss to simply having a bad night.

“I become a double champion, and I always do all those things, like kill all those girls, clean the division,” Nunes told ESPN. “I was like comfortable — too comfortable. I was in a moment like, ‘Nobody is really gonna beat me’ until Julianna came into the picture. Now, it’s like another excitement. Let’s go. I love this.”

The evening’s second rematch is a title concocted under a bit flimsier premise. Former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno (19-6-2) of Tijuana, Mexico takes on New Zealand’s Kai Kara-France (24-9) in a bout for an interim championship.

In this case, Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo swapped the flyweight title back and forth, with the latter regaining the title in January. Figueiredo asked for a bit more time to conduct what would be the fourth fight between the two, but UFC president Dana White declined and made this interim bout instead.

So Moreno, who is 5-1-2 in his past eight (4-0-1 against fighters other than Figueiredo) takes on Kara-France, whom he defeated via unanimous decision at UFC 245.

Moreno, for his part, wouldn’t bite on attempts to get him to look past the fight at a Thursday press conference.

“I have too much respect for Kai. I don’t know nothing bout Deiveson Figueiredo,” Moreno said. “Let me win this fight this Saturday, and we can talk about it.”

–Field Level Media

You may also like

oscar de la hoya
May 2, 2024 7:21 pm

Golden Boy Promotions defends Ryan Garcia in wake of banned substance report

Golden Boy Promotions issued a statement in support of its fighter Ryan Garcia, who reportedly tested positive for banned substance Ostarine prior to defeating Devin Haney on April 20. If…

Topuria
May 1, 2024 11:29 pm

Volkanovski: Holloway can make Topuria fight ‘look easy’

A matchup between UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and BMF champion Max Holloway has not been set, but Alexander Volkanovski — who has fought both — believes Topuria wouldn’t retain…

Ulanbekov
Apr 30, 2024 2:13 pm

Alex Perez-Tagir Ulanbekov back on for June 15

The previously scheduled fight between Alex Perez and Tagir Ulanbekov has been rebooked for UFC Fight Night on June 15, according to multiple reports. The flyweight fight was added back…

More Fighting News

oscar de la hoya
May 2, 2024 7:21 pm

Golden Boy Promotions defends Ryan Garcia in wake of banned substance report

Golden Boy Promotions issued a statement in support of its fighter Ryan Garcia, who reportedly tested positive for banned substance Ostarine prior to defeating Devin Haney on April 20. If…

Topuria
May 1, 2024 11:29 pm

Volkanovski: Holloway can make Topuria fight ‘look easy’

Ulanbekov
Apr 30, 2024 2:13 pm

Alex Perez-Tagir Ulanbekov back on for June 15

colby covington
Apr 29, 2024 10:20 pm

Colby Covington plans return at UFC 303, opponent to be determined

jake paul
Apr 29, 2024 4:11 pm

Jake Paul-Mike Tyson a sanctioned fight, no longer an exhibition

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds