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UFC Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes has retired from her fighting career, but not from mixed martial arts overall.
Nunes defeated Irene Aldana in a dominant performance in the UFC 289 headliner on Saturday in Vancouver. She cemented her case as the most superb female MMA fighter of all time by dismantling the previously surging Aldana inside the Octagon.
After arguably one of the best performances of her career, Nunes put down the gloves and announced her retirement. Speculation ran rampant leading up to fight night regarding Nunes’ future in the sport.
Nunes will likely be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame as soon as next year, and she’s planning on sticking around the sport to make an impact similar to Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Amanda Nunes Forecasts Possible MMA Coaching Future
During the UFC 289 post-fight press conference, Nunes expressed a desire to continue to impact MMA.
“I love this sport. Definitely, I have my gym, so I have a couple of girls there and I’d love to help them to be able to succeed as well,” Nunes said. “I have a lot to offer. As a double champion, I know a lot. We have a team that works together and I’ll be able to make another girl a champion, too. I can make her a champion and I know everything about this game…me and my team, we really know these things and we’re gonna continue to make a strong team in the future…
“Right now, I’m gonna take a break, see my family in Brazil, and enjoy my fun at home.”
Nunes’ retirement means the women’s bantamweight and featherweight titles are now vacant. UFC President Dana White hinted during his post-fight press conference that it’s unlikely that the promotion will keep the women’s featherweight division open after Nunes’ leave.
Nunes retires with a 23-5 record in MMA. After an early career loss to Cat Zingano at UFC 178, she went on to win 12 consecutive fights, including title wins over the likes of Miesha Tate and Cris Cyborg.
After attaining the bantamweight belt, Nunes finished Ronda Rousey at UFC 207 before picking up additional title defenses over Holly Holm and others.
Nunes’ accomplishments in MMA are undisputed, and she plans on passing along her knowledge to the next generation of female fighters.
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