In the UFC 200 main event, Amanda Nunes captured the women's bantamweight championship in devastating fashion with a first-round submission win over Miesha Tate. As usual, the fierce striker was very active right from the opening bell and a flurry of very hard shots before "Cupcake" was able to get going was the beginning of the end for the champ. Instead of pounding out the victory, Nunes showed off her submission skills by sinking in a rear-naked choke (arguably a neck crank).
What was the highlight of the fight?
Nunes' very impressive striking was the highlight of the fight. Nunes attempted 63 strikes and landed 40 -- all considered to be significant -- according to Fight Metric. In a fight that lasted less than five minutes, that definitely says something for itself. Nunes is one of the most dangerous strikers in the women's bantamweight division and that showed in the UFC 200 main event. She completely out-classed Tate on the feet, and once "The Lioness" beat the champ up enough standing, she got the job done on the mat.
Where do these two go from here?
With the women's bantamweight title changing hands so often since Ronda Rousey lost the belt last year, there are quite a number of contenders for Nunes' title. Julianna Pena is in the title mix with a win over Cat Zingano at UFC 200 and former champ Holly Holm looks to earn a title shot later this month against Valentina Shevchenko. If Rousey doesn't return this year, I suspect Nunes will fight Holm if she beats Shevchenko, but if "The Preacher's Daughter" doesn't, the title shot should be Pena's. But none of that matters if "Rowdy" makes her return later this year, because she's very likely to be first in line to regain the championship.
Tate is the second women's bantamweight champ post-Rousey era to lose her title in her first title defense, following Holm, the woman "Cupcake" upset for the title earlier this year. Tate will probably come back stronger in her next fight, although that's not a given (we've seen many fighters never be the same after devastating losses eg. Renan Barao). Expect her to take some time off, though, due to the dominant loss she suffered on Saturday.
Watch now, later or never?
Nunes made history by becoming the first Brazilian women's UFC champion. It was quick. It looked painful. Watch now.
Get the latest gear
