The two fighters that coach a season of The Ultimate Fighter usually have some level of animosity that create drama for the reality TV show. Amanda Nunes expected several heated interactions with the woman that dethroned her, UFC bantamweight champion Julianna Pena, when offered a coaching spot on TUF 30.
Instead, all the Brazilian heard was silence.
Speaking recently on MMA Fighting podcast Trocacao Franca, Nunes admitted surprise with Pena’s change of stance compared to her social media posts and interviews, when she went on to call Nunes “high-maintenance”.
“Since Julianna was talking a lot, being the trash talker she is, I thought she would really bring that to TUF, but it didn’t go as I expected,” said Nunes, who will rematch Pena at UFC 277 on July 30 in Dallas.
” She was very cool and completely unlike who she is. It’s possible she faked it, but it’d air on television and she does not want negative publicity. She’s too much, and everything’s full of Julianna already – imagine if she’s the way she [really] is on TUF. I think it wouldn’t be good for her, so I think she held back a little bit.”
“The Lioness” also believes that meeting with your former and future opponent on a daily basis — especially one that’s seen as one of the greatest fighters of all time — made Pena change her tone.
“I don’t know if she was used to seeing me all the time and that’s why she pumped the brakes on that stuff,” Nunes said. I even said to her: “Don’t talk on the internet!” I’m in front of you now, open your mouth.’ But it was cool. [Normally] I don’t talk too much but I asked her, ‘What’s up?’ That’s what TUF is all about, it’s a reality [show] and people want drama.
“I even tried to poke her a little bit to see if I could get something out of her, but didn’t get much. I did not understand much. I real expected something completely different than what she’s when on the show.”
Of all the things Pena has said in the past, Nunes does agree with her rival when she told The Schmo that Nunes is the champion “of a division of one person,” referring to the featherweight class and its lack of official rankings. That doesn’t mean, however, that Nunes isn’t planning on continuing to defend that title in the future, as well as the bantamweight belt, if she’s able to retake it at UFC 277.
“The division really is small and needs some work and investment,” Nunes said of the 145-pound class. “But these are the challenges presented to me. It was a challenge to face Cris [Cyborg] for the [featherweight] belt and I accepted and it worked, I became champion. I was the champion in that division, regardless of whether it exists.
“The UFC will still put me to fight at that heavier weight class. Recently, Norma [Dumont and Macy Chiasson]. fought me. That girl [Chiasson] can be a future opponent. It’s still a division and it’s moving on regardless of [having only] one, two, three athletes. It’s important that we have fights. I will defend it .”
as champion.
After flirting with retirement in the past and discussing a potential move to soccer, Nunes said that losing the 135-pound championship to Pena lit a fire inside her.
“That was my first belt and I really want it back,” Nunes said. I was motivated a lot by that loss. It didn’t demotivate me. Instead, it fueled my fire and forced me to rethink many things. I’ll continue on this vibe. I will dance to any music and give an answer.
” My love for the sport is louder. Everything about MMA is my passion. Retiring in your prime is always difficult. This rematch will be another great achievement. It will be historic and I know that this belt will return to me. That’s what makes me so fascinated about this sport.”
No longer training at American Top Team and surrounded by a new group of coaches in Florida, Nunes turns 34 later this month and “still has a lot to offer to the sport.”
“For some reason I had to lose that night, and for the mistakes I made in my camp and during the fight,” Nunes said, “If I really was 100 percent and training well, that fight would definitely be mine and I would continue with my belt. But for my decisions and being stubborn sometimes, [I lost].
“Everybody goes through that. I was one of those people. Sometimes, we need to be beat up until we get it right. I made a mistake that cost me the belt, and now we’ll battle to get it back.”
