10 Unexpected but Amazing Facts About UFC Superstar Amanda Nunes
Amanda Nunes is a force to be reckoned with. With back-to-back victories, she's the only woman in UFC history to hold two world titles simultaneously. As if that weren't enough, she's also the first female champ to win a third fight in the octagon.
But what you may not know about Nunes is that she's much more than a champion fighter—she's also an inspirational figure for all women. Here are 10 incredible and unexpected facts about this UFC superstar that should inspire you to never back down from your goals!
Early Life and Career of Amanda Nunes
Perhaps you know her as the UFC Women's Bantamweight and Featherweight Champion, but did you know that Amanda Nunes was born in Pojuca, Bahia, Brazil on May 30, 1988? Nina as she is affectionately known started her journey to become one of the most successful female MMA fighters by training in Jiu-Jitsu before going on to win her first professional fight in 2008.
Amanda's current professional MMA record is an impressive 21 wins and four losses, with 17 of those wins coming by way of knockout or technical knockout—which goes to show why she is considered one of the most relentless strikers in the UFC.
She has also held championship titles in both the Bantamweight and Featherweight divisions. Her list of accomplishments include a split-decision victory over former champion Ronda Rousey at UFC 207 in 2016, becoming a two-division champion after winning the featherweight title against Cristiane Justino (Cyborg) at UFC 232, and becoming the first female two-division champion in UFC history.
Rise to UFC Superstardom
When you look at UFC superstar Amanda Nunes, you may be forgiven for thinking that she was born with the heart of a champion. After all, the Lioness is an intimidating figure—one who usually gets the job done in swift and decisive fashion.
But what you may not know is that Amanda Nunes' rise to stardom wasn't always a certain one. She grew up in a small town in Brazil, where poverty was common and her prospects seemed dim. But she had faith—faith that drove her to train hard and make it all the way to the top.
Today, her Facebook page is evidence of her success; it's been viewed 4.5 million times with over 55K likes, 8.7K loves, 1.6K comments, and 6.1K shares! Yet this is only part of her story; she has an impressive Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) record of 20 wins and only 4 losses with five title defenses under her belt!
It's truly inspiring how far Amanda Nunes has come—from a humble Guarani Indian girl from Brazil to a superstar fighter feared by opponents all over the world!
Family Life and Support System
Surprisingly, UFC star Amanda Nunes has a close and supportive family network. Having a supportive family structure could be one of the big reasons for her success in the octagon. Not only does this help build strong relationships and emotional security, but it can have beneficial effects on her overall health and wellbeing.
Family support services provide assistance to families by helping them develop meaningful abilities and skills that positively impacts their wellbeing. As we all know, having a strong network of supportive family and friends can help enhance our mental health. This kind of stability has enabled Nunes to maintain focus in the cage, no matter what is going on outside of it.
It's evident that Amanda's parents have done an amazing job raising their children, as they are both accomplished athletes in their own right – her brother Douglas is an MMA fighter as well! It's no wonder why Nunes has become such a powerful force in the Mixed Martial Arts world; with this kind of support system behind her, anything is possible!
Record Breaking Accomplishments
Amanda Nunes is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to her accomplishments. She's the first woman to become a two-division UFC champion, and she holds a professional MMA record of 21 wins and four losses — that's pretty remarkable.
But did you know that Nunes has posted an 11-1 record with nine consecutive victories? That's right — she started off her career hot and hasn't looked back since. In fact, her current win streak of nine consecutive fights is the longest in the UFC women’s bantamweight division — now THAT'S impressive!
Nunes was also the first woman to hold titles in two different divisions simultaneously: featherweight and bantamweight. She successfully defended her featherweight title against Felicia Spencer at UFC 250, becoming the first women’s ‘champ champ’ to defend two titles successfully without vacating either one. No other female fighter has achieved this feat before her, making Amanda Nunes truly a one of a kind athlete!
Triumphant Fight Against Cris Cyborg
You might not know this, but back in December 2018, Amanda Nunes became a double champion by defeating Cris Cyborg at UFC 232. Amanda Nunes won in only 51 seconds, one of the shortest title fights in UFC history. It's pretty impressive considering that Cris Cyborg is the reigning 145-pound champion in Bellator and has defended it successfully on four occasions!
The build-up to the fight was a bit intimidating, as everyone was wondering if Amanda Nunes could really beat the reigning champion. To most people's surprise, Nunes was able to overpower and dominate Cyborg for the win. This made her the first woman to ever hold two titles in two divisions at once. She truly is a trailblazer and an inspiration to many other female fighters!
Who Is the Lioness Outside of the Octogon?
You might not know this, but Amanda Nunes is actually a pretty chill person outside of the octagon. The Lioness loves to spend time with her family and loves animals, spending time outdoors and camping. She even owns a donkey named Romeo!
But when she isn’t taking on opponents in the Octagon, what else does Amanda Nunes do? Here are a few more facts you may not have known about her:
When she was 17-years old, Nunes moved to Miami, Florida to train with American Top Team (ATT) prior to joining the UFC in 2013.
She is heavily involved in charity work and is an ambassador for both the Burger King McLamore Foundation and The Humane Society of Broward County.
She is also the proud owner of a popular MMA Gym in Miami called “Lioness Fitness Gym” where she teaches MMA classes to other aspiring fighters.
Lastly, Amanda opened up her own Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in 2020 with her wife Nina Ansaroff which has become one of the most popular gyms in Miami for BJJ training.
Whether she’s at home or out and about supporting charities, it’s clear that when it comes to being a role model both inside and outside of the octagon, Amanda Nunes has got it covered!
Practicing Martial Arts Mindfulness and Meditation Techniques
We bet you didn't know that UFC Superstar Amanda Nunes is an expert on martial arts meditation and mindfulness! She regularly practices meditative techniques to help her stay in control during fights, and to improve her mental game.
One way she does this is through the practice of Mokuso, which is a type of martial arts meditation practiced in Japanese martial arts. She closes her eyes and sits, focusing on breath and intent, which allows her to stay relaxed and focused during fights.
To help focus her energy, she also practices Kata forms like Sanchin and Tensho (also called Sanseiryu) – these involve specific breathing patterns as well as physical movements that require the use of various internal and external muscles. This type of practice requires the necessary ingredients of deep meditation: muscle-contraction control, concentration, flexibility concentration maintaining a relaxed state and relaxation in motion. By combining the physical movements with concentrated breathing and focus, Nunes believes she can tap into a powerful energy source to help her win fights.
Favorite Fighters and MMA Ideals
You might not know this, but the UFC superstar Amanda Nunes has some favorite fighters, just like you and I. Interestingly enough, she and her partner Nina Ansaroff both agree that their favorite fighter is Edson Barboza.
Nunes is also a big believer in MMA ideals like respect, hard work, and dedication. She even got honored at the annual Equality California Awards — an event that celebrates and recognizes the impact of members of the LGBTQ+ community.
So it's fair to say that we can learn a lot from this amazing fighter, both inside and outside the ring. After all, she's not only considered one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time — she's also a champion for equality!
Charitable Work and Community Involvement
You may not have realized it, but the UFC superstar has been involved in a lot of charitable work and community involvement. In 2019, the National Organization for Women (NOW) honored her with their Equality Visibility Award for stomping out gender stereotypes.
The UFC also partners with charities such as the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund to raise money for veterans. Through their 50/50 raffles at UFC events, they have raised more than $1.14 million for charities. And Conor McGregor has pledged up to $1 million dollars of his own money towards first responders in hospital during this pandemic.
These are just some of the many ways that Amanda Nunes has managed to make a difference in her community, and it’s empowering to see how she continues to use her platform for good.
Future Career Aspirations
You might not know this, but Amanda Nunes has some pretty ambitious goals for her career. Her long-term plan is to remain the double-champ—both Featherweight and Bantamweight titles—for UFC.
That's right, she has the opportunity to become the only female fighter to defend both belt titles while simultaneously holding them at the same time. It would be a huge achievement for Nunes, and one that could potentially write her into the history books of MMA.
Of course, Nunes isn't stopping there; she wants to continue to grow her career even more and become an even bigger star. Plus, there's another contender out there gunning for Amanda—that's Kayla Harrison from PFL, who is aiming to be their champion too.
It'll certainly be interesting to see how this plays out in the next few years or so—can Nunes keep up the momentum and make history with her belt titles? Will Kayla Harrison overtake her? We can't wait to find out!
Conclusion
From training at a favela in Brazil to coming out as bi, Amanda Nunes is an inspiration to us all. She is an example of grit and determination that show us anything is possible when you don't let anything stand in your way. Through her incredible journey, “The Lioness” has built a legacy as one of the greatest fighters of all time, and we can’t wait to see what she will do next.
Comments
Post a Comment