Amanda Nunes confident ahead of UFC 245
Amanda Nunes has no plans of losing her champ-champ status.
“The Lioness” sounded poised and confident that she will defend her bantamweight title at UFC 245 next month in Las Vegas.
“On December 14th I will bring the belt home with me and that’s all that matters,” said Nunes at tonight’s press conference in New York City.
Nunes (18-4) will rematch Germaine de Randamie (9-3) on the highly anticipated pay per view. The two last fought in 2013 with Nunes claiming a first round tko victory.
While both fighters have evolved since their fight six years ago, Nunes still feels that she’s the better fighter.
“I beat her at the beginning of my UFC career so imagine what I can do now?” Nunes said. “I’m here to make a statement. I’m here to stay and I will prove it once again.”
Nunes won the women’s featherweight championship last December and hasn’t defended that belt yet. She wanted this fight to take place at 145 pounds but de Randamie, the inaugural featherweight champion, wanted to fight at bantamweight.
“I want to do this at 145 and I asked for the fight twice at 145, but for some reason she doesn’t want it,” Nunes said. “After a back and forth with the UFC, I talked to my coach and my wife and we decided that the fight will never happen at 145.”
Nunes however does plan on defending her featherweight belt in the near future.
“I’ll fight her at 135 and then move up and defend the other belt.”
Since their last meeting de Randamie, who’s nickname is the “The Iron Lady,” has been unbeaten. Amanda Nunes admits that de Randamie is a much better fighter now, but she believes she will be too much for de Randamie.
“She’s a very good striker,” the only women’s two division champion in UFC history said. “Actually if you don’t play her game she has nothing against you. I’m going to make her play my game and force her to do what I want.”
UFC 245 will have two other championship fights on the card. The main event will feature Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington fighting for the welterweight championship. Featherweight champion Max Holloway will defend his featherweight strap against Alexander Volkanovski in the co-main event.
