Amanda Nunes will likely go down in history as the greatest female MMA fighter of all time, which was sparked by a huge win over Cris Cyborg at UFC 232.
After winning the UFC women's bantamweight title at UFC 200 against Miesha Tate, 'The Lioness' showed why she was one of the most talented fighters on the roster.
Amanda Nunes then successfully defended her title against women's MMA pioneer Ronda Rousey, suffering a first-round knockout.
Two title defenses later, Nunes decided to aim for greatness by moving up to featherweight and taking on one of the most feared female fighters ever.
Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
Amanda Nunes settles the GOAT debate with an emphatic KO
While Nunes dominated at 135 pounds, her compatriot Cris Cyborg did the same at 145 pounds, destroying every contender placed in front of her.
That then set up a historic fight at UFC 232 in 2018, as Cyborg looked to defend her featherweight title against Nunes, who was looking to become the first female double champion in UFC history and the first fighter to defeat Cyborg.
With the unknown that he would move up in weight and the fact that Cyborg had collected four KOs in five UFC outings, it was considered Nunes' toughest test yet.
Despite this, it didn't take long for Nunes to make her mark on the fight as she hit her Brazilian opponent with a barrage of punches within the first 50 seconds, subsequently sending her to the ground.
'Rowdy' Rousey was widely considered the greatest female fighter of all time after her dominant run in the promotion, but after her career ended, Nunes settled the debate with her vicious KO of Cyborg.
Could Amanda Nunes return to the UFC in 2025?
Her victory over Cyborg not only made her the greatest female fighter of all time, but Nunes defended both of her titles several times and retired in 2023 at the top of her game.
Despite this, the 36-year-old has continually hinted at a possible return to the Octagon since her retirement, indicating that she may not be 100% done fighting just yet.
Earlier this year at UFC 300, Kayla Harrison made her long-awaited promotional debut, and following her victory over Holly Holm, Nunes hoped to be drafted by the American after years of calling for fights.
Then, her former enemy Julianna Pena won the vacant title at UFC 307. And with that, Nunes posted a video online urging Dana White to call her, which excited fans.
Harrison now appears to be next in line to fight Pena for the bantamweight title, and with both women having a history with Nunes, this could mark an incredible comeback in 2025.
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