Amanda Nunes’ legendary mixed martial arts (MMA) career has officially ended.
Last month’s UFC 289 (June 10, 2023) marked the end of an era as Nunes, the queen of the super heavyweight and featherweight divisions, retired after a unanimous decision victory over Irene Aldana. From 2015 to 2023, Nunes lost only once, which came to Juliana Pena in December 2021. “The Lion” avenged the loss in an instant rematch in August 2022, sweeping the “Venezuelan Vixen” on the judges’ scorecards as she did. Aldana’s fighting yet.
At age 35 and carrying a 23-5 record, Nunes’ time on top began in July 2016 with a first round victory over Miesha Tate via rear naked choke. From there, Nunes went on to defeat every UFC champion ever at both 135 and 145 pounds. Still active, 36-year-old Tate feels she and the rest of the department can now breathe easy with all the great times out of the picture.
“They are absolutely right [there’s a new lease on life at Bantamweight],” Tate told the media on the 2023 UFC Hall of Fame red carpet (h/t MMA fighting). “Absolutely. It’s impossible for either of us to beat her. So, thank God the split is wide open and I think I’ll fight away. I know that might sound wild to some people. Like, ‘Wait a minute,’ but if I think about it since I got back, I’ve made A really dominant win, and then a very close decision loss to top 5 girl Caitlin Vieira.So even though I wasn’t very energetic, I still thought that with a solid comeback at 125 against a quality opponent, at least my name could be dropped I’m not saying I’ll be selected for sure but I’d like at least to be talked about in the competition.”
Tate’s title loss to Nunes would be her second in last fight before she retired later that year following a unanimous decision defeat to Raquel Pennington. In July 2021, Tate returned as a mom and former ONE Championship Vice President to defeat the retired 15th contender, Marion Renault, by floor and pound in the third round.
A test fight against Lauren Murphy at 125lbs came in July 2022 after the aforementioned Tate lost Vieira and hasn’t fought since. Tate was matched against rookie contender, Mayra Bueno Silva, for a date in June 2023, but was forced out due to a hand injury. Bueno Silva now faces the woman who defeated Tate to become champion in 2016, Holly Holm, in the main event of UFC Vegas 77 this weekend (Saturday, July 15, 2023).