Amanda Nunes, the UFC women’s bantamweight champion, will headline another pay per view event when she takes on contender and good friend Raquel Pennington on May 12, in Brazil.
This will be Nunes’ fourth (technically third, as she pulled out of 213 with illness) Main Event bout since winning the title back in 2016 at UFC 200.
Nunes retained her belt by ending former bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey’s career in less than a minute at UFC 207, and with a split decision against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 215.
There also have been rumours that Nunes is to face featherweight champ Cris Cyborg, who has been undefeated in the division since winning the Strikeforce featherweight title back in December 2011. Details are yet to be confirmed by UFC President Dana White, who is keen to have the first ever duel-multi-division women’s champ.
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But for now Nunes’ focus is UFC 224.
Pennington is currently on a four-fight win streak, including a performance of the night at UFC 191, with a rear-naked-choke against Jessica Andrade.
But this should prove no real problems for Nunes, as she only fought last September, while Pennington has not fought since November 2016.
The UFC is leading the way in equality as the only promotion in the world that has women headlining events that include men also on the card. This is largely thanks to the popularity of Rousey, but her successors are doing well in their own right.
At the moment the women fighters have three champions in three different divisions – Cyborg in featherweight, Nunes in bantamweight and Rose Namajunas at strawweight – and each of these women have co-headlined or outright headlined a PPV event.
One of the most brutal sports in the world has women on par with men for match quality and revenue making – but then women used to fight in the same event or alongside men in the gladiator days in Rome, so what is old is new again, sort of.
UFC 224 should be another blockbuster, with the women’s division leading the way. Can’t wait until May 12.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Hey Eddie. As I have said previously the ufc is punching out too many ppv events and this one is evidence of that plus 221 which was a disaster, 222 which was saved by Cyborg’s slap together match, 223 co main event changed almost as much as Horn v Crawford (still yet to eventuate) and now this. 225 is looking great if nothing goes wrong fingers crossed it doesn’t, Ive been waiting for Whittaker to finally defend his title and a rematch against Romero would be great. Cm punk is looking to get the crap kicked out of him again so that will sell some tickets. 224 will be an ok ppv bu it’s just a fill in until 225. Oh well it’s adds to My fight poster collection
Sideline Commentator
Roar Guru
Bit of a mess of a card, really. And as much as I hate to admit it Nunes is headliner by default. It was supposed to be headlines by Colby vs. RDA, but (as much as the UFC won't admit it) it had to be moved so Covington wasn't killed by the Brazilians while there (and who can blame them). They're now now fighting at 225 in Chicago. The UFC also targeted Cyborg as a main event, but she opted out. Still, I love Nunes and it's good to see her back in the cage. I think the UFC have mismanaged her to a degree, and she could be a bigger star than she is. Of course, a certain amount of blame has to be put on her herself for a certain lack of self-promotion. The UFC is a frontrunner in female sports (I wrote an article on here about that ages ago), but it's still nothing compared to men. The huge crowd for Rousey vs. Holmes has less to do with them than it does with the capacity of Etihad stadium. The card is actually 8th overall in ranking (which is still good!). Looking forward to the card as ever, but unfortunately it has not turned out to be the big card they'd hoped.
Ben
Roar Guru
"Plus what is your basis that the female fighters draw less than the men" Well... yeah. It kind of is my basis. Can you tell me what Rousey, Nunes and Cyborg had in common when they were the main events? Yep, they were the biggest drawcards. Now have a guess why other female fighters don't get main event fights before men? I'll give you a clue, ok. It's not because of their gender. ?
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
Of course everything has to do with $$$ but do you see anything other sport having a female event heading up the event with male on the card, boxing, or even WWE, I don't. Plus what is your basis that the female fighters draw less than the men. Rousey v Holmes drew 55000 plus in Melbourne and still hold the biggest crowd record for an UFC event.
Ben
Roar Guru
"The UFC is leading the way in equality as the only promotion in the world that has women headlining events that include men also on the card" Nothing to do with equality at all. By saying this, are you suggesting that female fighters that bring in less fans should be the main event more often? Because that's why the likes of Rousey, Nunes and Cyborg have fought main event fights. Nothing to do with equality. Everything to do with $$$.