Nunes (22-5 MMA, 15-2 UFC) avenged her stunning loss to Peña (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) on Saturday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas with a one-sided beatdown over five rounds that it resulted in a unanimous decision win to reclaim the women’s heavyweight title. Despite three knockdowns in the fight and opening a nasty cut to Peña’s forehead, Nunes was unable to stop the fight inside the distance. He said it was all by design, though, and could have forced a stoppage on several occasions. “I know Julianna is tough,” Pena told MMA Junkie and other reporters after the fight at UFC 277. “I know. I was ready for it. I could have finished her, but I wanted to go five rounds with her tonight to prove that I was better than her. … I’m better than her. I proved that tonight.” With the win, Nunes regained her status as a two-division UFC champion, adding the 135-pound title to her mantle once again alongside the women’s featherweight belt. Nunes’ second-round submission loss to Peña at UFC 269 in December was one of the biggest upsets ever to take place in the octagon. She said it was her mission to show that it was a mere stumble. “Tonight proved to be a lucky day for her,” Nunes said. “If she needed to be champion like that – she had her time, but now it’s over.” Nunes attended the UFC 277 post-fight press conference with a crutch and a limp. She said it’s nothing serious, though, and once she’s healed she’ll be ready to talk about her next move. “It was a war tonight,” Nunes said. “I was expecting to come up with something, but it will be fine.” For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 277.
