Amanda Nunes proved to all the doubters what she was made of: guts, steel, and a whole lot of talent. In one of the more anticipated UFC title bouts in recent memory, Nunes moved up a weight class to challenge fellow Brazilian Cris "Cyborg" Justino for her Featherweight belt. No one could have predicted the final outcome would come this easy.
Right from the opening bell, Amanda Nunes dictated the pace, forcing Cyborg into a relentless defensive position, which culminated in her landing a stiff overhand right - putting an end to the fight with 51 seconds on the clock. The victory makes Nunes the first female fighter in UFC to hold multiple belts concurrently - a distinction that certainly helps her build a case as a GOAT-level performer in the sport.
"Nothing was going to stop me from what I wanted to do tonight," Nunes said post-fight. "When she connected with a couple of punches, I just said, 'I'm going to walk right through her.'" Nunes continued her post-fight interview with gratitude to her fans and the gilded MMA community that supports her year-round, including bride-to-be Nina Ansaroff who fights in the Strawweight division.
Even Dana White could hardly contain his excitement over what he saw from Nunes. "She's the best ever," White said. "How can you deny it? That's what this fight was for. If you look at her résumé and who she's beat, she's the best ever. You can't debate that." For what it's worth, this was Cris Cyborg's first loss in MMA since her debut in 2005. Records are meant to be broken, legends usurped.