There are only a few women who compete the goat status of Amanda Nunes: Valentina Shevchenko and Cris Cyborg.
Cris Cyborg is MMA's 'Grand Slam' champion with world titles in UFC, PFL, Bellator, StrikeForce and Invicta. Larissa Pacheco recently dethroned the legendary featherweight, the only hunter that Kayla Harrison defeated, to become the new PFL champion in October.
In a career of 31 fight in which her Vecht Gina Carano, Holly Holm and Marloes Coenen, Cyborg has only lost in the last 19 years of the Grote Amanda Nunes, with a 51-second TKO on UFC 232 in what was one of the greatest fights in the MMA history of women.
While Cyborg is getting ready to withdraw from MMA with two more fights over in her, the retired nunes seems to return to the UFC after two years.
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Cris Cyborg says that Amanda Nunes 'still has the fire in her heart' for UFC -Comeback
Nunes retired after her 11th UFC title Fight victory over Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023.
Fast forward to last month and Nunes confirmed that she would retire to fight the winner of the next Bantamweight Title fight between former enemy Julianna Peña and former teammate Kayla Harrison on UFC 316.
“I saw that she says she will come back and maybe fight between Peña and Kayla,” Cyborg told Bloody Elbow.
'[When] You are a hunter, you always want to fight, you know?
'I believe she's still having fire in her heart [to] Come back. Let's see what her next exciting fight will be. “
As far as Cyborg is concerned, the 39-year-old veteran says she has two more PFL fights before her MMA pension and is planning to win a boxing title someday. Cyborg returns this weekend on Fight Night San Jose to cope with 4-1 Boxer Precious Harris-McCrray.
Cris Cyborg: 'Julianna Peña has everything to beat Kayla Harrison on UFC 316
Former PFL champion Harrison, who says Cyborg that she ran her after he signed at the UFC, gets a chance for champion Julianna Peña on UFC 316 on June 7.
Peña comes from a controversial split decision victory on Raquel Pennington, who saw her reclaim the title she lost to Nunes in their crooked Rematch on UFC 277. One of the most sustainable hunters in the Roster is Peña the only woman defeated Nunes in the past decade.
In the meantime, Harrison is a double Olympic gold medal winner in Judo and a two -time lightweight champion in the PFL. She will have to reduce the championship weight of 135 pounds for the first time in her career.
“This fight will end, like fast,” Cyborg said about Peña vs. Harrison.
“I think Julianna Pena has everything to beat Kayla.
“She will defend the Takedown. With Judo people you can take the back more easily. So let's take a look [if] Julianna has the best plan for her fight.
“I don't think she's going to finish one blow,” Cyborg said about Peña.
“You don't see the danger between them. But I believe they are both able to end through submission, but I believe it will be a great fight. Five rounds will be a small war there.
'Let's see who has the best cardio [and] that is mentally ready. I think it's very important. “