Amanda Nunes says that a terrible fight camp and lingering injuries played a key role in her loss to Julianna Pena.
This past December at UFC 269, Nunes lost her bantamweight title to Pena by second-round submission, in what was one of the greatest upsets in MMA history. Nunes claimed that she ” only checked out “ the day before the fight. However, Nunes now claims that her problems began much earlier than that.
“My whole camp for this fight was a mess,” Nunes told ESPN. “I want to tell myself that it was okay, that I could do this because fighters are like that. We want to go through whatever to step in the cage. My first fight against her fell through, I got COVID, all those things, and in my second fight with her, the camp I went through a couple of issues as well, that I knew I wasn’t going to be able to really show up to the gym every day at 100 percent. That fight was too much for me. I don’t think it would have looked good for me.
” That was my biggest mistake, I believe. It was not my intention to make it look worse by letting the fight end once more. It was my fault. I paid for my mistakes. I was supposed to listen to the doctors, I was supposed to listen to my body, and show up how I always do, 100 percent in the gym, full camp, and it was obvious in the fight. It was clear that I had shown how I felt about my camp and it feels like I have paid for it
Nunes explained that she had injured her knees, and therefore was unable train effectively. Instead, Nunes said that her preparation was largely focused around striking and keeping her diet in check, since she could no longer run to cut weight.
“Both of my knees were very bad, and I was unable to heal. But I persevered,” Nunes stated. “Every time I was training back home, the next day I couldn’t even walk. But I don’t want to make excuses. I did that. Although I have paid the price for my errors, I still want to go full camp.
” I needed to take some time. It was impossible for me to turn and do the other things I need, such as jiujitsu or wrestling. My hands were mainly used for striking, conditioning or other purposes. I only used my arms, so that cost me my belt.”
After a dominant opening round in which Nunes dominated Pena, Nunes fought back and hurt Nunes again with strikes before finally securing the rear naked choke. To most viewers, it appeared that Nunes simply gassed herself out trying to overpower Pena, but the former champion says that actually, it was the shots of Pena that were the real problem.
“In the beginning of the second round, I got caught,” Nunes said. “I watched Nina Ansaroff fight and told her that I had never been caught before. It was something I had never seen before. So I saw Nina fight it back. She did what looked like a Superman punch. I felt it right here. (Points to her left ear). After that moment, you can see clearly that I lost my balance and everything started to look very bad. So a lot of people say my conditioning. You don’t have to be caught if it’s your first time. It was so intense that I couldn’t recover and things started to get worse .”
Now, Nunes is in a new place: The blue corner. Nunes and Pena are set to serve as coaches opposite one another on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter, after which they will rematch for the bantamweight title. It will be the first time Nunes has been a challenger since she knocked out Cris Cyborg in 2018 to claim the featherweight title and, surprisingly, it’s something Nunes is kind of excited about.
“It actually gives me a different feeling, to chase for something,” Nunes said. For so many years in my career I felt very secure. Now, it is a good feeling. Because I chase now. It’s a new thing that I chase after. It’s kind of motivating me.”
TOP STORIES
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VIDEO STEW
The MMA Hour.
UFC Embedded.
Israel Adesanya being Israel Adesanya.
Doctor discusses Kamaru Usman’s hand surgery.
Call out.
LISTEN UP
Fighter vs. Writer. Chris Weidman previews UFC 271, discusses return timeline.
Heavy Hands. Breaking down the biggest fights at UFC 271.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
MMA fighters love to lower the bar.
Can’t wait to see Izzy Style back in the Octagon this weekend! One of the true remaining high level fighter/performer athletes we have on the roster!
Don’t just fight! Perform! @stylebender back in the Octagon this week! Only on PPV @ufc @espn #AndStill https://t.co/zVYfpNDrb3— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 9, 2022
Nice seeing pussies standing one for another.
Great display of feminism https://t.co/BGki2GBvgj— Marvin Vettori (@MarvinVettori) February 9, 2022
Book this fight.
Just got off the phone with my Agent,.. He was just letting me know that I’m STILL Thee Fuckin’ Best Of All Time Thanks Brotha- Champ CSO(tm) # @vaynersports x CSO @ufc Shit Werrrrrk Related *fwah-nah-nahhhh* pic.twitter.com/qiSwcA8md7
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) February 9, 2022
You with a new agent again, kid?
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 9, 2022
Josh Emmett.
— JOSH EMMETT (@JoshEmmettUFC) February 9, 2022
Good advice.
Sometimes you gotta bet on yourself.
— Kayla Harrison (@KaylaH) February 10, 2022
Respect.
Thanks bro https://t.co/pdvRm9ICtr
— Shavkat “Nomad” Rakhmonov (@Rakhmonov1994) February 9, 2022
Retired.
Moving up.
Fight poster.
Friends Enemies
Your #UFC272 official poster is live.
24 days to go! pic.twitter.com/gG1AhNBqkn
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) February 9, 2022
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Adam Borics (17-1) vs. Mads Burnell (16-3); Bellator 276, Mar. 12.
Phil Davis (23-6) vs. Julius Anglickas (10-2); Bellator 276, Mar. 12.
Jay-Jay Wilson (8-0) vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov (16-4-2); Bellator 276, Mar. 12.
Alex Polizzi (9-1) vs. Jose Augusto (7-2, 1 NC); Bellator 276, Mar. 12.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I played rugby in college and as a result, I’ve done probably 100 shoeys in my lifetime, and some of them were out of some truly heinous footwear, but I draw the line at a “cuppy”.
Thanks so much for reading. See you tomorrow.
EXIT POLL
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