Tag: Amanda Nunes

All-time UFC women’s champions, ranked

A definitive ranking of the UFC women’s champions since 2012.

Since UFC president Dana White introduced women to the promotion in Novermber 2012, there have been some dominant champions and stars.

Ronda Rousey rose to superstardom, helping open the door for many aspiring female fighters and the possibilities that come with it. In addition to bantamweight, the UFC later created three more weight classes, including two by using “The Ultimate Fighter” to crown inaugural strawweight and flyweight champions.

With 14 UFC women’s champions through March 2020, below is a ranking of their status.

Without further ado …

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14. Germaine de Randamie (0 title defenses as featherweight champion)

[autotag]Germaine de Randamie[/autotag] won the inaugural UFC featherweight title in a hard-fought battle against Holly Holm at UFC 208, but her reign did not last long.

The Dutch kickboxer was meant to make her first title defense against Cris Cyborg, but she was unwilling to fight Cyborg because of her history with performance enhancing drugs. When the matchup never materialized, the UFC stripped de Randamie of her belt. She proceeded to move back down bantamweight

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Felicia Spencer wants to spoil Amanda Nunes’ featherweight title defense plans at UFC 250

While Amanda Nunes sets out to make history, Felicia Spencer is looking to play spoiler.

While [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] sets out to make history, [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] is looking to play spoiler.

Dual-champ Nunes could become the first fighter in UFC history to register title defenses across two weight classes while holding multiple belts when she puts her featherweight title on the line against Spencer at UFC 250.

Nunes (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC) already has successfully defended her bantamweight title five times. Most recently, she beat Germaine de Randamie at UFC 245. But she has yet to defend her 145-pound title since capturing it with a first-round knockout over Cris Cyborg in December 2018.

Spencer (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) emerged as a No. 1 contender at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk, Va., in February when she took out Zarah Fairn in the first round. Megan Anderson also picked up a first-round finish on the same card. But since Spencer already holds a win over Anderson, the title shot went to her.

Since most UFC dual-champs so far have relinquished one of their belts, Spencer admitted she’s appreciative that Nunes has kept her word.

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“I was pretty confident that she would,” Spencer told MMA Junkie. “I think pretty early on, she’s been saying that she wanted to defend both belts. I mean, it’s not really ever a concern. I know that my division is so young in the UFC and kind of still a little bit uncertain that I don’t put all of my eggs into one basket. So I don’t expect too much. But it’s really nice that she’s going to be the first to attempt to defend her belt in two divisions, and hopefully I’ll spoil the plans of having a successful defense of the belt, unfortunately.”

It’s going to be a tall order for Spencer against Nunes, who hasn’t lost in more than five years. And while she’s run through most opponents, Nunes showed a bit of vulnerability in her most recent outing against de Randamie. She was tagged on numerous occasions on the feet, but used her wrestling to stifle de Randamie’s offense.

Spencer said she will look to take advantage of those moments.

“There’s some openings that are left where Amanda’s been able to capitalize on it, and I just have to make sure that I don’t have any openings, unnecessary openings,” she said. “There’s definitely some things to pay attention to with (Nunes’) last fight. But I know it’s not always a reflection of how the future fights can go, or a full reflection of her skill set. But I think there’s some places that I can excel in the clinch or on the ground. So yeah – I’m excited to start breaking it down, though.”

Spencer had a taste of what it’s like to face a champion when she took on former UFC featherweight champ and current Bellator 145-pound champ Cris Cyborg at UFC 240. Although she suffered her first pro loss in that fight, it was a valuable experience for Spencer, who was able to cut Cyborg badly with a lunging elbow and hang tough for 15 minutes.

She was able to gauge what it’s like to compete against top-level competition.

“I feel like just the preparation (was important), being confident that my mindset will be fine,” Spencer said. “I take away a lot of great things from the experience in the loss, from leading up to the fight and through the 15 minutes. (It was) definitely something I can draw from.”

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UFC champ Amanda Nunes announces forthcoming baby with partner Nina Ansaroff

Nina Ansaroff is pregnant and the UFC fighter, along with her partner, champ Amanda Nunes, are expecting their first child later this year.

[autotag]Nina Ansaroff[/autotag] is pregnant and the UFC strawweight, along with her partner, dual-champ [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag], are expecting their first child later this year.

Nunes, who holds the UFC women’s featherweight and bantamweight titles, took to social media Thursday and announced the expected September arrival of a baby girl, Raegan Ann Nunes.

“I wanna tell every single person on this planet that,” Nunes wrote on Instagram. “Raegan Ann Nunes will be here mid-September! I cannot wait to see her.”

MMA Junkie subsequently confirmed with Ansaroff that she is pregnant, but will not retire – which she’d previous mentioned as a possibility. Ansaroff said she will return to fighting “not too long after” giving birth.

The announcement puts a bow on a big day for Nunes in particular. Just hours prior, “The Lioness” was confirmed to put her 145-pound belt on the line in the UFC 250 co-main event May 9 in Sao Paulo. She meets Canadian challenger Felicia Spencer on the card.

Nunes (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC) and Ansaroff (10-6 MMA, 4-3 UFC) have publicly discussed the idea of having children for several years, and now the first one is on the way.

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Amanda Nunes puts featherweight title up against Felicia Spencer at UFC 250

Amanda Nunes will attempt to defend her women’s featherweight title for the first time at UFC 250.

[autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] will attempt to defend her women’s featherweight title for the first time at UFC 250.

Nunes, who owns belts at 145 pounds and women’s bantamweight, will meet [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] on her home soil in the co-main event of the May fight card.

MMA Junkie verified the title booking with a UFC official following an initial report from ESPN.com. The UFC’s broadcast partner was informed of the fight by UFC president Dana White.

UFC 250 takes place May 9 at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.

Nunes (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC) has been the UFC’s dual-champ since December 2018, when she knocked out Cris Cyborg to add featherweight gold alongside her bantamweight belt. She’s defended her 135-pound title twice since against Holly Holm and Germaine de Randamie, but has been keen to move back up and become the first in UFC history to register title defenses across two weight classes while holding multiple belts.

Looking to stop that historical moment from happening is Spencer (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), who is less than a week removed from a first-round TKO of Zarah Fairn at UFC on ESPN+ 27. There were two featherweight fights on that card, and Megan Anderson also getting a win. Both appeared in the running to get the title fight with Nunes. But Spencer holds a win over Anderson, which may have been the difference to the UFC brass.

Spencer will attempt to join Georges St-Pierre and Carlos Newton as the only Canadian fighters to win UFC titles, and would become the first female in the group.

With the addition, the UFC 250 lineup now includes:

  • Champ Henry Cejudo vs. Jose Aldo – for bantamweight title
  • Champ Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer – for women’s featherweight title
  • Marion Reneau vs. Ketlen Vieira
  • Blagoy Ivanov vs. Augusto Sakai
  • Aleksei Oleinik vs. Fabricio Werdum
  • Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Mauricio Rua
  • Bethe Correia vs. Pannie Kianzad

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Callout Collection: Who UFC on ESPN+ 27 winners want next – and how likely they’ll get them

Brendan Allen, Megan Anderson and Felicia Spencer were among those with specific names in mind for their next fight after UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk.

Earning wins in the UFC is certainly no easy task, but what comes next is often even more important: the post-fight callout.

So after Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 27 event in Norfolk, Va., who took advantage of their time on the mic? See below for this week’s Callout Collection – and just how realistic each one is.

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First up, let’s take a look at the night’s prelim winners.

Brendan Allen

Wants to fight: [autotag]Trevin Giles[/autotag]

The callout: “I’d love to avenge one of my losses at ‘International Fight Week’ coming up (against Trevin Giles). But right now, I just want to go home and see my baby.”

The reality: [autotag]Brendan Allen[/autotag] looked superb in his first-round finish of British prospect Breese, and a matchup with former foe Giles, who defeated him in his third professional fight, might just make sense. Giles snapped a two-fight losing streak with a win over James Krause, who jumped up two weight classes to face him on a day’s notice, and will be looking for a win against a legitimate 185-pounder next time out to get the ball rolling again. A matchup against a man he has faced before might be just the ticket for Giles, while giving Allen the rematch he clearly craves.

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Next up, the first of two women’s featherweight contenders…

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Amanda Nunes down to defend her UFC featherweight title vs. Felicia Spencer or Megan Anderson

Champ-champ Amanda Nunes was impressed by both potential featherweight challengers coming out of UFC Norfolk.

[autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] is ready for whomever the UFC chooses to put in front of her.

The UFC featherweight and bantamweight champion is down to take on either 145-pound winner from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 27 event in Norfolk, Va.

Both Felicia Spencer and Megan Anderson picked up impressive first-round stoppages during the evening’s main card. Spencer stopped Zarah Fairn with ground-and-pound, while Anderson put away Norma Dumont with a straight right.

With a thin 145-pound divisional roster, many believe the most impressive winner at UFC on ESPN+ 27 would likely be the front runner for a title shot against Nunes.

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The Brazilian champion took to Twitter on Saturday night to let the MMA world know she’s fine with either challenger.

“I like both winners tonight,” Nunes wrote. “Now it’s up to Dana White. I’m ready for either.”

It’s been rumored that Nunes plans on defending her title at UFC 250 in Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 9. The 31-year-old champ last fought in December, where she successfully defended her bantamweight belt, outpointing Germaine de Randamie in a unanimous decision.

Below is Nunes’ tweet saying she’s down to take on either Spencer or Anderson:

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UFC Fight Night 169: Joseph Benavidez vs. Deiveson Figueiredo Preview, Fight Card, Live Stream, How to Watch

How to watch to watch the UFC fight tonight. Live stream UFC Fight Night 169 flyweight title with Joseph Benavidez vs Deiveson Figueiredo

UFC Fight Night 168 features a rare title bout when Joseph Benavidez looks to win the vacant flyweight belt against challenger Deiveson Figueiredo. You can only watch this UFC stream on ESPN+.

Figueiredo missed weight, which means he’ll forfeit 30% of his purse and can’t actually win the belt even if he wins the fight. Benavidez opened up with his thoughts on his opponent missing weight by nearly three pounds, laying down some great pre-fight smack talk.

“He wasn’t going to ever win the belt, anyway,” Benavidez said per MMAJunkie.

There’s also a toss-up at women’s featherweight on this card that will likely lead to a title bout against champion and women’s pound-for-pound leader Amanda Nunes. Felicia Spencer will look to impress against Zarah Fairn after her tough decision loss to Cris Cyborg at UFC 240 in July. Megan Anderson could also earn herself a title bout against Nunes if her fight against Norma Dumont is more exciting and impressive.

With so much on the line, you won’t want to miss UFC Fight Night 169. You can only watch the UFC fight tonight on ESPN+, so sign up now!

How to watch UFC Fight Night 169:

Who: Joseph Benavidez (28-5) vs Deiveson Figueiredo (17-1)

For: UFC Flyweight belt

When: Saturday, Feb. 29, 5:00 p.m. ET (Prelims) – 8:00 p.m. ET (Main card)

Where: Chartway Arena, Norfolk, VA

UFC stream:

UFC Fight Night 169 live stream: Watch the UFC fight tonight on ESPN+.

UFC Norfolk Main Card (8 p.m. ET)

  • Joseph Benavidez vs. Deiveson Figueiredo – Flyweight Title
  • Felicia Spencer vs. Zarah Fairn – Women’s Featherweight
  • Ion Cutelaba vs. Magomed Ankalaev – Light Heavyweight
  • Megan Anderson vs. Norma Dumont – Women’s Featherweight
  • Grant Dawson vs. Darrick Minner – Featherweight

UFC Norfolk Prelims (5 p.m. ET)

  • Gabriel Silva vs. Kyler Phillips – Bantamweight
  • Brendon Allen vs. Tom Breese – Middleweight
  • Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac – Heavyweight
  • Luis Pena vs. Steve Garcia – Lightweight
  • Jordan Griffin vs. TJ Brown – Featherweight
  • Aalon Cruz vs. Spike Carlyle – Featherweight
  • Sean Brady vs. Ismail Naurdiev – Welterweight

We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.

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Zarah Fairn ‘will be ready to take on Amanda Nunes’ for title with UFC on ESPN+ 27 win

Zarah Fairn believes a win at UFC on ESPN+ 27 will put her in line for a shot at Amanda Nunes’ featherweight title.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – [autotag]Zarah Fairn[/autotag] sees UFC on ESPN+ 27 as a four-person audition for who gets to challenge [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] for the featherweight title, and she intends to come out ahead.

Although Fairn (6-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) can’t control what happens in the other matchup between Megan Anderson and Norma Dumont, she does have power over her own performance in Saturday’s co-headliner against Felicia Spencer (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC).

If Fairn can match her own expectations, she said she will put herself at the forefront of the conversation to fight dual-champ Nunes (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC) for 145-pound gold.

“I believe strategically the UFC put all the girls on the same card to see what’s at stake and make a decision based on the results that are going to happen,” Fairn told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at today’s UFC on ESPN+ 27 media day. “But there could be another girl jumping in as well, so I’m going to have to perform.”

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Should Fairn deliver, she would be fighting for a UFC title in just her third octagon appearance. He debut went terribly, with  a first-round submission against Anderson at UFC 243 in October.

The loss was a blemish in Fairn’s career, but she said it shouldn’t serve as an indictment of her abilities. Nunes has been on a serious run of success across two divisions, but Fairn sees herself as a threat.

“I will be ready to take on Amanda Nunes,” Fairn said. “Obviously there’s going to be some adjustments to make and some serious training to put in, but I feel like I signed with UFC with that goal in mind and obviously I will definitely be ready.”

First things first, though, Farin must net her first UFC win. It will be an uphill climb, because Spencer is the biggest betting favorite on the card at as high as -900. Farin, however, is eager for the challenge.

“I want to display my standup skills,” Farin said. “What’s interesting about this fight is there’s many different styles. Felicia is a wrestler, I’m a striker, so that’s what MMA is about. People from two different styles and I’me excited to display all those skills.”

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