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Amanda Nunes

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Amanda Nunes is a professional mixed martial artist from Brazil. She is widely considered one of the greatest female fighters in history. Nunes competed primarily in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, known as the UFC. She achieved legendary status by becoming a two-division champion. Specifically, she held titles in both the Bantamweight and Featherweight divisions. She was also the first fighter to hold two UFC titles in different weight classes at the same time. In 2022, she reached the number one spot in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.

Her journey into martial arts began with a variety of disciplines. At age five, she started capoeira, a Brazilian martial art. She began learning karate at age seven. At age 16, she started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a style focused on ground fighting. She also practiced boxing and judo. At age 17, she moved to Salvador to train at the Edson Carvalho academy. Because she was the only woman there, her coach called her "Leoa," which is Portuguese for "lioness." This nickname has stayed with her throughout her career.

Nunes built a strong foundation through competitive grappling. She earned a gold medal at the 2008 Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship as a blue belt. In 2009, she won gold at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship as a purple belt. She also became a North American Grappling Association (NAGA) world champion in 2012. These successes helped her develop the skills needed for professional mixed martial arts. Today, she holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a brown belt in judo.

Her professional career in the UFC was marked by historic milestones. On July 9, 2016, she defeated Miesha Tate to win the Bantamweight Championship. She won the fight using a rear-naked choke, which is a submission hold. This victory made her the first openly gay UFC champion. Later, on December 29, 2018, she moved up to the Featherweight division. She defeated Cris Cyborg in just 51 seconds to win the Featherweight title. This win made her the first woman to hold two different UFC belts simultaneously.

Nunes faced many challenges and intense rivalries during her career. She had a long series of fights against Valentina Shevchenko. They fought several times, including a close split decision win for Nunes in 2017. She also had a famous trilogy of fights against Julianna Peña. Nunes lost her Bantamweight title to Peña in a massive upset in late 2021. However, she regained the title in 2022 with a dominant five-round victory. For that performance, she received a "Fan Bonus of the Night" worth 30,000 US dollars in bitcoin.

Her career accomplishments are reflected in her status within the sport. Nunes holds the record for the most wins in women's title fights in the UFC, with seven victories. She was also recognized for her incredible striking and submission skills. Many of her wins came through technical knockouts (TKO) or various submission holds. In June 2025, she was announced as an inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame. This honor recognizes her as a member of the "modern wing" of the sport's legends.

After a period of retirement, Nunes has prepared for a comeback. She announced her return to the UFC in June 2025. Her return follows a two-year break from active competition. She has expressed interest in competing for the bantamweight championship again. While injuries to other fighters have changed her scheduled dates, her presence remains significant. Nunes continues to be a major figure in the world of professional combat sports.

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