Amanda Nunes put on a stupendous display of MMA dominance to defeat Mexican challenger Irene Aldana at UFC 289, then announced that she is retiring from the sport.
Two-division champion Nunes put her bantamweight title on the line in the main event in Vancouver, Canada, and completely bossed Aldana over the five-round championship duration, with the judges scoring the fight 50-44, 50-44, 50-43 to round out her career with a record of 23 wins, five losses.
“Where’s the scissors!” she shouted at the start of her post-fight interview, before shouting “Double champ forever” as the cutman cut off her gloves for the final time.
“Today, I just tied with Anderson Silva by defending the belt, so tonight is the perfect time to retire and live happy forever.”
She then laid down her two championship belts, along with her gloves, and kissed them as the crowd chanted “Nunes! Nunes!”
“My mum has been asking me so much for me to do this for so long. She cannot take it anymore. Nine has been around me for so much with me for my whole career. We’ve been on this road for so long.
“So I decided right now. I’m still young and I can enjoy everything that I make, you know. I’m gonna travel a little bit with my family
“I’ve got to spend more time with my family in Brazil, as well. I left them so young to come and chase my dream and everything. And I’ always had doubt in my mind that I would become a champion. But when I became a champion, it was unbelievable, a double champion.”
Put simply, Nunes is the greatest female fighter in UFC history, and arguably in the sport as a whole. She has defeated a who’s who of fighters at 135- and 145 pounds, and has dominated both divisions for years. Her only other rival for female GOAT status, Cris Cyborg, also has a stellar resume, but Nunes’ victory in their head-to-head title clash at UFC 232 – a 51-second knockout – makes her claim for all-time status a very persuasive one.
And Nunes signed off with a call to action for her Brazilian colleagues on the UFC roster.
“I come from a small city in Brazil. The name is Pojuca. Nobody knows where it is in Brazil, but I made it here. I became a champion, and I’m the only champion that Brazil has right now. So, Brazilian fighters, get your s**t together, come get the belts, alright? I’m leaving! Thank you!!”
UFC 289: Official results
MAIN CARD
- Amanda Nunes def. Irene Aldana via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-53) – for women’s bantamweight title
- Charles Oliveira def. Beneil Dariush via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:10
- Mike Malott def. Adam Fugitt via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 1:06
- Dan Ige def. Nate Landwehr via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Marc-Andre Barriault def. Eryk Anders via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Nassourdine Imavov vs. Chris Curtis ruled a no contest (accidental clash of heads) – Round 2, 3:04
- Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Miranda Maverick via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Aiemann Zahabi def. Aoir Qileng via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:04
- Kyle Nelson def. Blake Bilder via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
EARLY PRELIMS
- Stephen Erceg def. David Dvorak via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Diana Belbita def. Maria Oliveira via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)