Amanda Nunes has been pulling no punches since her 48 second destruction of Ronda Rousey at UFC 207 last Friday night in Las Vegas, and that trend continues in her latest interview with TMZ Sports.
After having had a chance to go toe-to-toe with ‘Rowdy’ The bantamweight champion herself, Nunes told the site that she’s surprised that the superstar remained unbeaten for as long as she did.
“I don’t know how Ronda Rousey went too far in this division,” Nunes said. “Honestly, I don’t understand why those girls lost to Ronda Rousey. I know since my first fight in the UFC I can beat Ronda Rousey, but of course I have to take my time and put everything together. That day was the day to prove to everybody and I did it.”
Nunes went on to state that in her opinion the UFC had portrayed Rousey to be better than she really was.
“Yes, for sure [Rousey is overrated]. The UFC make this happen. They put her in a place where she’s not at. But I know I can beat Ronda Rousey since I saw her first fight.”
In all fairness to Rousey, she was being given the best the UFC’s 135lb division had to offer at the time, including respected fighters like Miesha Tate, Cat Zingano and Sara McMann, and had been dismantling them all with ease.
Woman’s MMA is in the same place that their male counterparts were many years ago though, when Royce Gracie ruled the roost with his submission prowess.
These days Gracie would stand little chance against the far more evolved, well-rounded fighters that compete in the UFC today, yet that doesn’t take away from his legendary status in the sport, and the same level of respect should apply when it comes to Rousey.
That being said, Nunes comments are most likely born from her resentment at the lack of publicity she received pre-UFC 207 despite being the title holder, and from that perspective she certainly has a right to feel hard done by.
Nevertheless, everyone now knows who she is, and she would do well to remember that casual fans who weren’t aware of her before will now be forming their opinions based on how she conducts herself in the immediate aftermath of her highlight-reel victory.
