Tag: Amanda Nunes

Twitter Mailbag: How to book welterweight, ATT drama, UFC 250 pay-per-view expectations

What UFC matchups should be made at welterweight? What’s up with the latest drama at American Top Team? Will UFC 250 bomb on pay-per-view?

Questions on your mind about recent happenings in MMA or the sport in general? MMA Junkie’s Twitter Mailbag is here – and this week it’s @MikeBohnMMA to answer:

  • How should UFC matchmake the welterweight division?
  • Why isn’t [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] locked into the next title fight?
  • What’s the future of the flyweight division?
  • What’s next for [autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag]?
  • Is [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] worthy of a pay-per-view headliner?

Those are answered in the video above. You can also read on a few more topics below.

* * * *

Will the fact that Poirier still uses the services of Phil Daru impact the relationship Dustin has with Jorge? I ask as last week Jorge took shots at Daru who recently left ATT to focus on his own ventures.

The drama around American Top Team doesn’t stop, does it? This one is a little bit interesting to me, but at this moment I’m not really expecting any real issues to rise from it.

Yes, Jorge Masvidal did put strength and conditioning coach Phil Daru on blast for leaving ATT. The story didn’t gain much traction because it came right on the heels of Colby Covington’s departure, but Masvidal thought Daru was more interested in using the big names from the gym to build his own brand before splitting from the team to do his own thing.

Daru is still in South Florida, though, and [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] has been seen working with him on social media. Poirier has also been seen training closely with Masvidal, which leads to your question about whether this is going to create some tension. I don’t think it will right now, for a couple reasons:

  • 1) Poirier has been working with Daru for a while now. He has a main event with Dan Hooker coming up on June 27, and it’s one of the most important fights of Poirier’s career following his title-fight loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in September. He needs to rebound, and for him to drop Daru at this stage would be a self-inflicted wound that would throw his preparation into some disarray.
  • 2) Masvidal and Poirier are boys. I’ve never heard these two say a bad word about each other in all my years of interviewing them, and although “Gamebred” may have issues with Daru, I think he’s been around the game long enough to understand that differences in opinion happen and his experiences with Daru may not align with the relationship Poirier has formed.

It’s possible the situation changes in the aftermath of Poirier’s fight with Hooker, but to answer the question bluntly: No, I don’t think this causes any strife between “The Diamond” and Masvidal.

Will Alistair Overeem fight for the UFC belt before end of his career?

I hope to see it, honestly. [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] was one of the fighters that got me into MMA and combat sports, and it’s rather remarkable that at 40 he’s still here fighting at the highest level, winning UFC main events. I think there’s a path for him to the title, but winning in that moment is a much steeper task.

A victor in four of his past five, I don’t think it’s unrealistic one more win could put Overeem in another heavyweight title fight. It might take two. But who will be holding the belt once he gets there? Stipe Miocic or Francis Ngannou seem like the most likely candidates, given Daniel Cormier is almost certain to be retired and Jon Jones’ heavyweight plans have seemingly fizzled.

Overeem has already come up short against both Miocic and Ngannou. He lost his first UFC title opportunity to Miocic at UFC 203 in September 2016, but came within seconds of winning when he dropped Miocic (who proceeded to tap out, of course). Then there’s the Ngannou fight from UFC 217 in December 2017, which remains one of the great knockouts in UFC history as “The Predator” hit Overeem with an uppercut that was winded up from another planet.

Given his competitive nature, Overeem would surely love the chance to get either of those losses back. And it’s not unreasonable to think it will happen.

You got a spare bedroom I can stay in until all this (expletive) blows over? I’m not crazy. I promise.

You are not the first to ask me this question, friend. I would like to take in all those looking to flee from America or elsewhere during this crazy time in our world, as I am a kind Canadian. But alas, it’s just not feasible.

I do in fact have a single spare bedroom, though. So, how do you make yourself the frontrunner? A few questions: Are you tidy? Can you cook? Do you have good taste in Netflix shows? Not crazy is a good start, but let’s strengthen the argument a little bit and perhaps I’ll consider it.

To ask a question of your own, follow @MMAjunkie on Twitter and let us know.

UFC 250 predictions: Is anyone picking big underdog Felicia Spencer to upset dual champ Amanda Nunes?

Check out our staff members’ picks for UFC 250, featuring dual champ Amanda Nunes vs. featherweight challenger Felicia Spencer.

Nunes
vs.
Spencer		 Assuncao
vs.
Garbrandt		 Sandhagen
vs.
Sterling		 Magny
vs.
Martin		 O’Malley
vs.
Wineland
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 46-32		 nunes2020
Nunes
(75%)		 garbrandt2020
Garbrandt
(54%)		 sandhagen2020
Sandhagen
(53%)		 magny2020
Magny
(76%)		 omalley2020
O’Malley
(89%)
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 58-20		 nunes2020
Nunes		 assuncao2020
Assuncao		 sterling2020
Sterling		 magny2020
Magny		 omalley2020
O’Malley
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 57-21		 nunes2020
Nunes		 assuncao2020
Assuncao		 sterling2020
Sterling		 magny2020
Magny		 omalley2020
O’Malley
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 55-23		 nunes2020
Nunes		 assuncao2020
Assuncao		 sandhagen2020
Sandhagen		 magny2020
Magny		 omalley2020
O’Malley
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 55-23		 nunes2020
Nunes		 garbrandt2020
Garbrandt		 sandhagen2020
Sandhagen		 magny2020
Magny		 omalley2020
O’Malley
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 54-24
trophy copy 2019 Champion*		 nunes2020
Nunes		 garbrandt2020
Garbrandt		 sterling2020
Sterling		 martin2020
Martin		 omalley2020
O’Malley
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 54-24
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 nunes2020
Nunes		 assuncao2020
Assuncao		 sterling2020
Sterling		 magny2020
Magny		 omalley2020
O’Malley
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 53-25
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 nunes2020
Nunes		 assuncao2020
Assuncao		 sandhagen2020
Sandhagen		 magny2020
Magny		 omalley2020
O’Malley
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 53-25		 nunes2020
Nunes		 garbrandt2020
Garbrandt		 sterling2020
Sterling		 martin2020
Martin		 omalley2020
O’Malley
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 53-25
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 nunes2020
Nunes		 garbrandt2020
Garbrandt		 sterling2020
Sterling		 magny2020
Magny		 omalley2020
O’Malley
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 52-26		 nunes2020
Nunes		 assuncao2020
Assuncao		 sandhagen2020
Sandhagen		 magny2020
Magny		 omalley2020
O’Malley
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 51-27		 nunes2020
Nunes		 assuncao2020
Assuncao		 sandhagen2020
Sandhagen		 magny2020
Magny		 omalley2020
O’Malley
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 48-30		 nunes2020
Nunes		 garbrandt2020
Garbrandt		 sterling2020
Sterling		 magny2020
Magny		 omalley2020
O’Malley
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 44-34		 nunes2020
Nunes		 garbrandt2020
Garbrandt		 sterling2020
Sterling		 magny2020
Magny		 omalley2020
O’Malley
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 33-45		 spencer2020
Spencer		 assuncao2020
Assuncao		 sandhagen2020
Sandhagen		 magny2020
Magny		 wineland2020
Wineland

The UFC is back Saturday with an event headlined by arguably the greatest women’s fighter of all time.

UFC 250 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC) puts her 145-pound title on the line for the first time against challenger [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC). Nunes is the huge favorite at -650, and not surprisingly she’s a near-unanimous choice in the picks from our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts – only one of whom is picking Spencer in a major upset.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag] (27-7 MMA, 11-4 UFC) takes on former bantamweight champion [autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in a key contenders fight. Garbrandt is a slight favorite at -150, but it’s Assuncao with a slight 8-6 lead in the picks from our staff members.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) takes on [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) in another important bantamweight bout. The fight is a virtual pick’em from the oddsmakers, and it’s close with our pickers, as well. Sterling has the edge at 8-6.

[autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC) is a -135 favorite against [autotag]Anthony Rocco Martin[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in a welterweight fight. But despite those close odds at the sports books, Magny has a huge 12-2 lead over Martin in our picks.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) is the second biggest favorite on the card in his fight against former WEC bantamweight champ [autotag]Eddie Wineland[/autotag] (24-13-1 MMA, 6-7 UFC). With O’Malley a -550 favorite, only one of our pickers is taking Wineland to pull off what would be the biggest upset of his career.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Nunes (75 percent), Garbrandt (54 percent), Sandhagen (53 percent), Magny (76 percent) and O’Malley (89 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

UFC 250 breakdown: Does Felicia Spencer have any underdog upset shot against Amanda Nunes?

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the UFC 250 main event between Amanda Nunes and Felicia Spencer.

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MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC 250.

UFC 250 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

Amanda Nunes (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC)

Staple info:

  • Height: 5’8″ Age: 32 Weight: 145 lbs. Reach: 69″
  • Last fight: Decision win over Germaine de Randamie (Dec. 14, 2019)
  • Camp: American Top Team (Florida)
  • Stance/striking style: Orthodox/muay Thai
  • Risk management: Good

Supplemental info:
+ UFC bantamweight and featherweight champion
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ Judo brown belt
+ 13 KO victories
+ 3 submission win
+ 13 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Underrated footwork
+ Improved jab
+ Dangerous right hand
+ Hard leg kicks
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Good hip awareness
+ Solid top game

Felicia Spencer (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC)

Staple info:

  • Height: 5’6″ Age: 29 Weight: 145 lbs. Reach: 68″
  • Last fight: TKO win over Zarah Fairn (Feb. 29, 2020)
  • Camp: The Jungle MMA (Florida)
  • Stance/striking style: Switch-stance/kickboxing
  • Risk management: Fair

Supplemental info:
+ Invicta FC featherweight title
+ Taekwondo black belt
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ 2 KO victory
+ 4 submission wins
+ 4 first-round finishes
+ Aggressive pace and pressure
+ Diverse striking arsenal
^ Kickboxing attacks, stance-shifting attacks
+ Strong inside the clinch
+ Serviceable wrestling and takedowns
^ Relentless chains and scrambles
+ Superb transitional grappler
^ Excellent back-taker

Point of interest: Striking with the Lioness

The main event for UFC 250 features a featherweight title fight between two females who aren’t afraid of a little traffic on the feet.

[autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag], who is a serviceable, come-forward kickboxer, carries a black belt in tae kwon do that speaks loudly within her style.

Staying light on her feet and not afraid to shift stances, Spencer can unleash everything from ax to hook kicks off her lead leg to front teeps and round kicks from the rear. When feeling in stride, Spencer does a decent job of attaching punches to her striking flow, but her defense is also most culpable at these times.

Shifting attacks alone tend to open up even the best of strikers to harsh weather by nature, so Spencer will have to really prioritize head movement and level-changes to avoid any abrupt stops or counters. In fact, changing her level/using the looming takedown threats could serve her well standing, especially should Spencer fake a takedown to a head kick a la Frankie Edgar-style.

Still, no matter Spencer’s approach, she can’t afford to get too creative before getting to her preferred points of entry. Striking comfort aside, she will be standing across a fast and formidable fighter come Saturday night.

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Enter [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag].

A fighter who came storming aggressively out of the gates, Nunes has had to refine her natural aptitude for combat. Training boxing since she was 16, Nunes has rounded out her game with effective muay Thai since entering MMA.

Initially forcing her way into exchanges (and producing quick results in doing so), Nunes has slowly sharpened her skills, smartly adjusting her pressuring approach. Most notably, Nunes has improved her footwork, circling just outside of range as opposed to rushing right in.

Intelligently circling or taking the appropriate angles, the double champ has been able to improve her distance management, striking technique and shot selection, making the power coming off of her frame more potent in the process. This, coupled with Nunes’ upgraded jab and feints, could help her dissuade the offense that may be coming her way.

Nunes has also proven to use her jab much more efficiently to set up her crosses and hooks, as well as utilizing it as a check to either the head or body to help exit exchanges safely.

Even though Nunes has proven in recent years that she can conduct herself accordingly in the striking department for prolonged periods of time, I see this being a battle that will require a lot of effort in regards to keeping things on the feet.

Next point of interest: Wrestling wears

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Six burning questions heading into UFC 250

MMA Junkie senior editor Dave Doyle takes you through six key storylines heading into Saturday night’s UFC 250.

The UFC machine chugs along Saturday night when the company’s sole remaining champ-champ puts one of her titles up for grab.

In the UFC 250 main event, featherweight and bantamweight champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] puts her 145-pound belt on the line for the first time since her swift and stunning knockout to take the title from Cris Cyborg 18 months ago when she takes on top contender [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag].

And while this card might not have the sort of marquee value of, say, a Conor McGregor or Nate Diaz fight, the discerning eye will notice a variety of low-key interesting matchups up and down the card. 

UFC 250 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

Without further ado, then, here are six burning questions heading into UFC 250.

Can Amanda Nunes add another chapter to her legacy?

McGregor won the UFC featherweight and lightweight belts, but never defended either. Henry Cejudo won the bantamweight championship while holding the flyweight title, but vacated the flyweight belt before defending either after attaining champ-champ status. Daniel Cormier might have wanted to continue defending the light heavyweight belt after he won the heavyweight crown, but the UFC wanted the belt back, so they came to a deal in which he relinquished the 205 pound belt before defending the heavyweight belt against Derrick Lewis. 

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Nunes (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC), however? Here’s a different breed of cat. Since defeating Cyborg at UFC 230, she’s twice defended her bantamweight belt, defeating Holly Holm and Germaine de Randamie. Now she goes up against Spencer (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), who has made up for her relative lack of experience with plenty of toughness and heart, in the first defense of her 145 belt. A victory here, obviously, makes her the first UFC champ-champ to successfully defend both belts. And an 11th straight win will not only add to her argument for women’s GOAT, but also climb the GOAT list regardless of gender.

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UFC 250: Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s UFC 250 fight between Amanda Nunes and Felicia Spencer, with MMA betting odds, picks, tips and bets.

Amanda Nunes and Felicia Spencer battle for the women’s featherweight strap on the main card at UFC 250 at the UFC’s Apex Facility in Las Vegas. The card kicks off Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+ and on pay-per-view.

Nunes (19-4) puts her featherweight belt on the line Saturday night for the seventh consecutive time. She picked up a unanimous decision win over Germaine de Randamie Dec. 14, 2019 at UFC 245 for a sixth consecutive title defense. Three of Nunes’ past four bouts have finished inside the distance, with three KO/TKOs before the UD against de Randamie. Four of the past seven fights for Nunes have ended in the first round, too.

For Spencer (8-1), she enters this bout as a decisive underdog at +450. The Canadian is two inches shorter than the champ, along with a one-inch reach disadvantage. Nunes is much more effective on the mat, posting a 2.33 to 1.36 advantage in takedown average, while posting a dominating 47.62 takedown-accuracy percentage to just 16.67 for Spencer. The Canadian does outpace the Brazilian champ slightly in significant strikes landed per minute, 4.54 to 4.34, and significant strike-accuracy percentage, 55.56 to 49.82. Two of Spencer’s past three bouts have finished inside the distance – the exception was a unanimous decision loss to Cris Cyborg, Spencer’s only setback at the UFC level to date.

Want to place a bet on UFC 250? Place bets at BetMGM online in CO, IN, NJ and WV! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer betting odds

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, June 5 at 7:35 a.m. ET.

Nunes (-625) is expected to retain her belt for a seventh consecutive title defense, so you’ll have to get creative when betting this match. Taking her on the 2-way line is just too much risk and not a tremendous amount of return. (Every $6.25 wagered on a Nunes win only profits $1 if she prevails).

The fight is not expected to go the distance, but No (-358) is a rather risky proposition as well. It might be better to go with TOTAL NUMBER OF ROUNDS UNDER 3.5 (-209), which is still a lot of chalk to eat, but not that terrible. Better yet, going UNDER 2.5 ROUNDS (-134) is even less risk, and Nunes definitely has enough to put Spencer away quickly. It might also be a good idea to roll with NUNES BY KO/TKO/DQ (-154). If you want to get specific, Nunes to win in Round 1 (+210), Round 2 (+350) or Round 3 (+600) pay handsomely. My suggestion would be taking NUNES IN ROUND 2 (+350).

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Nunes (-625) to win on the 2-way line fetches a profit of just $1.60. Betting Nunes to win by KO/TKO/DQ (-154) nets a profit of $6.49, while playing the UNDER 2.5 rounds (-134) on a $10 bet profits $7.46.

To watch the full card, sign up for ESPN+ now.

If you want some action on this MMA bout, place your wagers at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and analysis, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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UFC 250 ‘Embedded,’ No. 3: Amanda Nunes, Felicia Spencer bump elbows

UFC 250 takes place Saturday, and the promotion’s popular “Embedded” series returns to get you ready for fight night.

The UFC returns to the fight capital of the world for UFC 250 this Saturday, and the promotion’s popular “Embedded” series is back to help build the excitement ahead of the action.

UFC 250 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

In the main event, UFC dual champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC) puts her featherweight title on the line for the first time when she takes on former Invicta FC champ, [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC). In the co-main event, skidding bantamweights look to rebound, as [autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag] (27-7 MMA, 11-4 UFC) faces former UFC bantamweight champ [autotag]Cody Garbrandt [/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC), who’s coming off a layoff of more than a year.

The second episode of “Embedded” follows the big-name stars at the top of the card as they arrive in Las Vegas. Here’s the UFC’s description:

Felicia Spencer does interviews outdoors and runs into her opponent, double champ Amanda Nunes. Cory Sandhagen plays HORSE, Cody Garbrandt target shoots with his team, and Sean O’Malley sweats it out at the PI.

Also see:

Amanda Nunes comfortable with GOAT label but not done racking up wins just yet

Reigning two-division UFC champion Amanda Nunes isn’t a boastful person, but she’s comfortable with with the label “Greatest of All-Time.”

Reigning two-division UFC champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] isn’t a boastful person, but she’s comfortable with wearing the label “Greatest of All-Time,” and rightfully so.

A quick look at her career speaks volumes, having taken out a who’s who list of top female fighters across multiple weight classes. Nunes said she heard all of her detractors along the way, so she’s happy to receive some praise now that she’s at the top of the game.

“Honestly, yeah, because I did it,” Nunes told MMA Junkie. “I did everything. I proved it already. I feel like I hear so many other things, too, and I’m OK about it – bad things. Not that I’m OK about it, but it is what it is. People say things, what am I going to do? Am I going to punch them? No. I have to listen and let it go. … So if you can handle that, when people talk sh-t about me, I’ll be able to handle anything else, you know? So when they tell me I’m the best and I’m the greatest, I think it, too. I am. I proved it.

“I beat all the good girls, the champions, the former champions. (Cris) Cyborg, everybody was terrified of her. She would beat everybody. Thirteen years without losing. Ronda Rousey. Holly Holm. All of the big names. Miesha Tate. Valentina Shevchenko. All of those girls are very tough girls. Those fights made me who I am today. Now, if I have to go through a war, I’m going to. That’s made me stronger. I am the ‘Lioness.'”

With Nunes’ professional life in peak form, she’s had an opportunity to make strides in her personal life, as well. Her wife, UFC strawweight contender Nina Ansaroff, is currently pregnant, and the two are thrilled at the opportunity to become parents later this year.

“It’s pretty cool,” Nunes said. “We’re very excited. It’s a new part of our life. We’re very excited about it. We planned everything. We would be scared if we didn’t plan anything, if you’re not strong financially. If we didn’t know how to raise a child, I would be scared.

“We cannot put this child on the planet if we cannot take care of him. We cannot be dependent on other people to help us take care of this child. We really have to have our sh-t together, and we have to do this. So when I got everything together, I got all the big fights and my bank account looks the way it’s supposed to look to have a child, I looked at Nina like, ‘Now is the time. Now we’ll never have to depend on other people,’ because depending on other people is crazy. We’re going to have everything. The scholarship of our child has to be paid now. We can make this happen, and now we are here, we are excited, happy, and I can’t wait for the moment.”

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So what does that mean for Nunes’ career? After all, she has already defeating the biggest names in the sport. With little left to prove, what else could she really want to accomplish?

A lot, Nunes said.

“Honestly, I just want to keep doing this, keep fighting,” Nunes said. “I feel like this is my job and always was, from day 1 in my life. I love to do this. I don’t know what I would do without fighting. This is the thing that I like to do: training and fighting. This is what I like to get ready for when I wake up in the morning and do. I will be very sad one day, maybe when I retire, when I don’t wake up and go to the gym. Being able to go do something else, that is going to be very weird for me, because I’m going to do something else one day. I know that. But to think about it, that I’m going to wake up to go to the office and not the gym, that’s going to be weird for me.

“For now, I just want to keep doing this. Whatever life shows me, I want to see what it is. Now it’s Felicia Spencer and the first time defending the 145-pound belt, and after that, it’s probably going to be 135. There’s going to be new faces coming up. I can see what life is going to show to me.”

Nunes (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC) and Spencer (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) meet in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 250, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

According to the oddsmakers, Nunes is a 6-to-1 favorite, implying about an 86 percent probability of victory, but the future UFC Hall of Famer insists she’s not taking anything for granted.

“This girl is good,” Nunes said. “Everybody underestimated her, but I’m not. I’m ready for her. That is the first rule in my book: Never underestimate an opponent. This girl went three rounds with Cyborg. There’s a reason she’s going to face me on Saturday, and I’m ready for her. I’m looking at it like I’m facing another Cyborg in front of me. It’s the way I look at it, and I’m ready for her.

“I’m so ready for this fight, and I really look at her that she’s going to be ready. I know she’s going to. She’s not coming there to lose. She’s going to step in there and try to get this belt, but she’s not going to get it. I’m going to be ready for her.”

At just 32, Nunes has the physical ability to compete for several more years. But with a growing family at home and a shrinking number of new contenders in her way, could motivation one day be a concern?

Perhaps, but that time is not now, she says.

“I also want to do other things,” Nunes said. “I want to be able to spend more time with my family in Brazil. I want to do so many things, but I think now that I can’t. I love this so much. My mother always asks me, ‘You’re going to stop when you’re 40-something or 50? You have to really start thinking about it,’ but it’s so hard for me to think that. This is the fight of my life, and I love this adrenaline. This is what I love to feel: fight week.

“For my mind, my heart, this is something that brings me in the mood I like to feel. I don’t know what I’m going to do to feel those things when I retire.”

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UFC 250 pre-event facts: Double champ Amanda Nunes looks to achieve more history

The best facts and figures about UFC 250, which features an Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer featherweight title main event.

The UFC holds its fifth pay-per-view event if 2020 on Saturday with UFC 250, which takes at UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a five-fight main card lineup.

A women’s featherweight championship bout is featured in the main event. Featherweight and bantamweight champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC) puts her 145-pound belt on the line against [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in attempt to become the first in UFC history to register title defenses in two divisions while holding multiple belts simultaneously.

For more on the numbers, check below for 50 pre-event facts about the UFC 250 main card.

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Main event

Amanda Nunes

Nunes is one of four simultaneous two-division champions in UFC history. Daniel Cormier, Conor McGregor and Henry Cejudo also accomplished the feat.

Nunes is one of seven fighters in UFC history to win titles in two weight classes. Cormier, McGregor, Cejudo, Georges St-Pierre, B.J. Penn and Randy Couture also accomplished the feat.

Nunes’ five consecutive UFC title defenses are most among current champions.

Nunes’ seven victories in women’s UFC title fights are most in company history.

Nunes has defeated six fighters who once held an undisputed UFC belt, tied with Jon Jones for the most of any active fighter in the organization.

Nunes’ 12 victories in UFC competition are most for any female in company history.

Nunes’ 11 victories in UFC women’s bantamweight competition are the most in divisional history.

Nunes’ 10-fight UFC winning streak in women’s competition is the longest in company history.

Nunes’ nine-fight UFC winning streak at women’s bantamweight is the longest active streak in the division.

Nunes’ eight stoppage victories in UFC women’s bantamweight competition are most in divisional history.

Nunes’ seven first-round finishes in UFC/Strikeforce women’s bantamweight competition are second most in combined divisional history behind Ronda Rousey (seven).

Nunes’ six knockout victories in UFC women’s bantamweight competition are the most in divisional history.

Nunes’ three knockdowns landed in UFC women’s bantamweight competition are the most in divisional history.

Nunes’ 14-second knockout of Julia Budd at Strikeforce Challenger 13 is the fastest knockout in UFC/Strikeforce women’s history.

Nunes’ victory at the 2:36 mark of Round 5 at UFC 224 marked the second latest stoppage in a women’s UFC title fight – behind only Miesha Tate’s win at the 3:30 mark of Round 5 vs. Holly Holm at UFC 196.

Nunes’ four fight-night bonuses for UFC women’s bantamweight fights are second most in divisional history behind Rousey (seven).

Felicia Spencer

Spencer competes in her fourth UFC women’s featherweight bout, the third-most appearances in divisional history behind Megan Anderson (five) and Cris Cyborg (five).

Spencer’s two victories in UFC women’s featherweight are third most in divisional history behind Cyborg (four) and Anderson (three).

Spencer has earned six of her eight career victories by stoppage. That includes both of her UFC wins.

Spencer’s two stoppage victories in UFC women’s featherweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Anderson (three).

Co-main event

Raphael Assuncao

[autotag]Raphael Assuncao[/autotag] (27-7 MMA, 11-4 UFC) competes in his 15th UFC bantamweight bout, tied for the second most appearances in divisional history behind Urijah Faber (17).

Assuncao is 11-3 since he dropped to the UFC bantamweight division in August 2011.

Assuncao’s 11 victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind T.J. Dillashaw (12).

Assuncao’s eight decision victories in UFC bantamweight competition are most in divisional history.

Assuncao defends 68.7 percent of all significant strike attempts in UFC bantamweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Vaughan Lee (71.5 percent).

Cody Garbrandt

[autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since March 2, 2019. The 462-day layoff is the longest of his more than seven-year career.

Garbrandt has suffered three consecutive losses after starting his career on an 11-fight winning streak. He hasn’t earned a victory since December 2016.

Garbrandt is the only UFC bantamweight champion to lose the title before making a successful defense.

Garbrandt’s eight knockdowns landed in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Dillashaw (nine).

Featured bout

Aljamain Sterling

[autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag]’s (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak in bantamweight competition is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind Petr Yan (six) and Marlon Vera (five).

Sterling’s nine victories in UFC bantamweight competition are fourth most in divisional history behind Dillashaw (12), Assuncao (11) and Faber (11).

Sterling landed 174 significant strikes at UFC 238, the single-fight record for a UFC/WEC bantamweight bout.

Sterling’s three submission victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Faber (six) and Rani Yahya (five).

Sterling lands 50.1 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC bantamweight competition, the third highest rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Luke Sanders (51.7 percent) and Matthew Lopez (51 percent).

Sterling absorbs just 2.02 significant strikes per minute in UFC bantamweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.

Sterling is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn a submission victory by Suloev stretch. He accomplished the feat at UFC 228. Zabit Magomedsharipov and Kenny Robertson has also won with the technique.

[autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag]’s (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak in bantamweight competition is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind Yan (six) and Vera (five).

Sandhagen lands 7.14 significant strikes per minute in UFC competition, the fourth highest rate in company history behind Paulo Costa (8.43), Justin Gaethje (7.74) and Leslie Smith (7.56).

Remaining main card

Neil Magny

[autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC) becomes the fifth fighter to make 22 or more UFC welterweight appearances.

Magny’s 15 victories in UFC welterweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind St-Pierre (19) and Matt Hughes (16).

Magny is the only fighter in modern UFC history to make five or more octagon appearances in consecutive years. He went 4-1 in 2015 after going 5-0 in 2014.

Magny’s five UFC victories in 2014 tied Roger Huerta’s record for most octagon wins in a calendar year. Huerta accomplished the feat in 2007.

Magny’s 100 significant ground strikes landed against Hector Lombard at UFC Fight Night 85 stand as the single-fight UFC record.

Magny’s 142 total strikes landed in the second round of his victory against Lombard stand as the third most in a single UFC round.

[autotag]Anthony Rocco Martin[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) is 5-1 since he returned to welterweight in April 2018. He’s 8-1 in the weight class overall.

Martin absorbs just 1.64 significant strikes in UFC welterweight competition, the highest rate among active fighters in the weight class.

Eddie Wineland

[autotag]Eddie Wineland[/autotag] (24-13-1 MMA, 6-7 UFC) competes in his 21st UFC/WEC bantamweight bout, the most appearances in combined divisional history.

Wineland’s 11 victories in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are tied for fourth most in combined divisional history behind Dillashaw (12), Faber (12) and Dominick Cruz (12).

Wineland’s eight stoppage victories in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are tied with Dillashaw, Faber and Yahya for most in divisional history.

Wineland’s eight knockout victories in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are most in combined divisional history.

Wineland’s 13 knockdowns landed in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are the most in combined divisional history.

Wineland defends 93.3 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC bantamweight competition, the third highest rate in divisional history behind Jimmie Rivera (95.5 percent) and Renan Barao (94.7 percent).

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.