If there was any question about Amanda Nunes being the greatest women's fighter of all time, she answered it at UFC 239 on Saturday. "The Lioness" has made quick and easy work of every opponent standing opposite her in the Octagon, but Holly Holm was the last remaining former women's bantamweight champion in UFC history who Nunes had yet to face.
It's time to add her to the list of Nunes' victims.
The double-champ successfully defended her bantamweight belt against Holly Holm, knocking out the former champion with a vicious headkick in the opening round of their co-main event fight.
Seemingly aware of Holm's tendency to raise her right leg before throwing kicks, Nunes landed a perfectly timed kick of her own to the head of Holm. The powerful kick sent Holm to the canvas, unable to defend herself from the onslaugh of punches that quickly followed.
“I knew I was going to get her with her own kick,” Nunes said in the post-fight interview.
“I told my coach I wanted to knock her out the same way she likes to knock people out and then I did it tonight.”
Nunes has now successfully defended her bantamweight title four times and is just two short of Ronda Rousey's all-time record of six consecutive defenses. Nunes had previously talked about taking a break following her fight against Holm, but now she seems to be thinking about defending her featherweight belt.
“I definitely want to defend my 145 belt,” Nunes said. “Let’s see, I’m going to talk to Dana [White]. Dana tomorrow I’m going to call you and we’re going to have a talk.”