Julianna Pena Explains How the Amanda Nunes Fight Didn’t Match Her Expectations

Amanda Nunes is the first female fighter to hold UFC championship titles in two divisions simultaneously. ‘The Lioness’ took her first loss in 8 years after Julianna Pena submitted her at UFC 269 for the bantamweight championship title.

Pena fought a courageous fight and stood in the pocket with ‘The Lioness.‘ Though Nunes dominated the first round, she looked tired in the second. Eventually, Nunes went for the takedown and Pena submitted her with a rear-naked choke.

Though Nunes lost by submission, it was Pena’s striking and will to stand in front of ‘The Lioness’ that shocked everyone. ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ believed in her striking, using a constant jab to tire out the then-champion.

Recently, Pena appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and spoke about how she expected a tougher fight from Nunes.

Pena said, “Well, I actually thought that she [Amanda Nunes] was going to put up more of a fight. I was expecting to have it be a knockdown, drag-out fight. It was actually a little bit easier than I had anticipated initially.”

Pena did the unthinkable and defeated the greatest women’s MMA fighter. And many believe this as the biggest win by an underdog.

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Joe Rogan compared Amanda Nunes’ performance to a regional fight

Pena submitting Nunes fairly easily alarmed many experts. Joe Rogan was one of them. Rogan hinted Nunes was exhausting too much energy and wasn’t fighting smart.

On his JRE podcast with the guest Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera, Rogan revisited the fight and commented on Nunes’ performance.

Rogan said, “She [Amanda Nunes] was trying to take her [Julianna Peña] out quick and then, when Julianna was still there, you could tell, she was f**king tired. For, for you to be a world champion, in two divisions, and universally recognized as the greatest woman fighter of all time, which Amanda is. It’s unexcusable [inexcusable] to be that tired in the second round, unexcusable [inexcusable], and just standing in front of her, just swinging in front of her, no movement side to side, standing right in front of her like you’re watching a regional fight.”

The UFC has officially put Pena and Nunes as the coaches for ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ Season 30. Eventually, at the end of the season, they will have a rematch.

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Who do you think will win the rematch? Can Nunes come back stronger in the rematch? Let us know in the comment section.