Can Amanda Nunes reclaim the UFC bantamweight belt? Brandon Moreno will fight Kai Kara-France for the interim title. This would allow him to secure a fourth bout with Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo. UFC 277 will be answering all of those questions Saturday. Two-time UFC champion Kenny Florian also has his picks.
A color commentator and analyst for the PFL, Florian broke down the championship bouts on this week’s episode of MMA Fighting podcast Trocacao Franca.
“When you’re ahead of everybody else and is fighting so many great fighters, everybody else in the division is watching you,” Florian said of Nunes. You can predict how they will win. Every time you fight, other people and their teams can watch you and see what’s the best strategy to beat you. It’s difficult to keep up with everyone else for so long .”
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Nunes had been on an upbeat run heading into the match against Pena in December 2021,, having defeated all of her opponents for the UFC featherweight and bantamweight titles. Even though she appeared to be speeding against Pena, she was tagged on her feet and then submitted on ground.
“It’s hard to say why Amanda Nunes lost,” Florian said. “I think she’s so skilled to stay on the feet to win by knockout, but I think she wasn’t very calm at that moment. Pena expected that and was under so much pressure. When you’re champion for so long, sometimes — I don’t know if that’s the case with Amanda Nunes — champions no longer respect the other people in the division.”
Nunes decided to leave American Top Team shortly after losing at UFC 269 to open her own gym in Florida. Florian believes the Brazilian could make a good decision now that she has her own team of coaches, although the ultimate answer will be revealed on Saturday.
“Amanda is more experienced and powerful, smarter, tougher, and better on the ground,” said he. “I think [Peña] was waiting for Amanda to get tired, and when that happened, she had more energy and pressure, [and Nunes] lost. However, you must look at Amanda’s skills. She has greater power and more experience. For the rematch, it is important that Amanda can be calm and patient rather than pushing things.
“I think Pena has more heart. Amanda has a lot of experience, but we don’t know if she really wants to be there as champion. If she has in her heart to fight again and get her belt back, I think Amanda will win. I think she’s better than Pena on the feet. She’s a jiu-jitsu black belt on the ground too, but she has to be in shape and training hard. Amanda can win .”
if she is in good shape.
In conclusion, Florian feels Nunes is competing not only for a UFC Belt in Dallas but also to be referred to as the greatest female fighter in MMA.
” If she defeats Pena she can [erase that first] box. But it’s hard,” Florian said. “I think Amanda was the world’s greatest fighter of all-time. You can see how she finished her fights both on the floor and on the heels, and the women that she has beaten like [Cris] Cyborg, Holly Holm, and many others. She’s certainly the best. But losing this one to Pena, I think it’s hard to come back from this.”
Florian, who once challenged for the featherweight and lightweight belts in the UFC, also weighed in on the co-main event rematch between Moreno and Kara-France.
The veteran pointed out that although he doesn’t usually do it when UFC creates interim belts for marketing purposes rather than waiting for Figueiredo back from injury, he knows the importance of the move in order to draw more people to events like UFC 277..
“Brandon Moreno lost to Deiveson and it was a great fight, and Kai Kara-France is very, very good, very technical, and has many wins,” he said. His team may be the most powerful in the world, if you take a look at Israel Adesanya or [Alexander] Volkanovski. They are at such a high level. I think Kai Kara-France is a very tough fight for Brandon, but Brandon is training so hard. I’ve trained with Brandon before and he’s so focused and good on the ground, but it’s a very difficult fight with Kai Kara-France.”
Moreno won the decision in the first fight he had with Kara-France. Florian predicts the same result on Saturday.
” They are both very good on the foot and the ground but Moreno has the advantage on the ground.” he stated. It’s hard to pick, but I think Brandon can win again. Although it’s difficult to choose, I believe Brandon will win .”
again.
A win for Moreno would set up a fourth clash with Figueiredo. Florian expects that the Brazilian will win one more match if this happens.
“I think Deiveson has more power with his striking,” Florian said. “Brandon Moreno was better in mixing it up. Deiveson was a very different fighter last time they fought, though. If I had to choose now who would win between Moreno and Deiveson, it’s hard, but I think Deiveson has a bit of an edge. His wrestling has improved and he’s more patient with the feet thanks to his striking .”
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