Amanda Nunes reacts after defeating Cris Cyborg by first round knockout to become the new UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion during UFC 232 at the Forum in Inglewood Ca, Saturday, Dec 29, 2018. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Amanda Nunes targeting UFC 250 for featherweight title defense
Current UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes appears to be getting close to returning to action this Spring. After defending her bantamweight title at UFC 245 in December with an unanimous decision victory over Germaine de Randamie, Nunes appears on track to return to defend her featherweight title for the first time since she won it.
Nunes became the featherweight champion when she defeated Cris Cyborg in 51 seconds back at UFC 232 in December of 2018 but has yet to defend the 145-pound title. As she prepares to make her return back, Combate has reported that Nunes is targeting UFC 250 for her first featherweight title defense.
According to the report from Combate, Nunes requested to defend her featherweight title after having two consecutive defenses of her bantamweight title against de Randamie and Holly Holm in 2019. The report also states that Nunes will be paying attention to the UFC Norfolk card this weekend which features two women’s featherweight fights as Megan Anderson faces Norma Dumont and Felicia Spencer takes on Zarah Fairn.
Nunes recently referenced this upcoming fight card and hinted that she’ll have her eyes on the four female featherweights competing.
I’m very excited for the ufc card this week 👁👁 🦁
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) February 27, 2020
Although it has not been officially announced or confirmed by Nunes or the UFC, all signs are pointing to her defending the 145-pound title in Brazil at UFC 250 on May 9. If Amanda Nunes does return at UFC 250, it’ll be her first fight in Brazil since UFC 224 where she defended her bantamweight title over Raquel Pennington.
The current two-weight champion has won her last 10 fights split between both divisions and has not suffered a loss since she faced Cat Zingano at UFC 178 in 2014. Earlier this month, Nunes downplayed any potential retirement conversation around her career and instead said she has dreams of winning a third title in the UFC.
There’s no current front-runner to face Nunes at either bantamweight or featherweight, but this weekend’s UFC Norfolk card could play a factor in her next opponent.
