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Looking back on her first title defense against Ronda Rousey in December, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes admitted the way she was promoted before the fight left her feeling “alone” and “hurt.” 

Speaking to a group of fans during a Q&A before last Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins for UFC Fight Night in Fortaleza, Brazil, Nunes (14-4) spoke candidly about how much the emotional toll fueled her 48-second knockout victory over Rousey. 

“Every time I touched Ronda, connected a punch, I wanted more and more,” said Nunes, whose comments were translated from Portugese by MMAFighting.com. “That’s why the fight was so fast. Every time I connected, I felt that she couldn’t take it, so I threw more and only stopped when it was over. But it was good.” 

Nunes, who stopped Miesha Tate last July at UFC 200 to win the title, endured a buildup for her UFC 207 fight with Rousey that focused completely on the former champion’s return from a 2015 knockout loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193.  

“I talk about anger, but I was sad,” Nunes said. “I felt alone, you know what I mean? Everything was for Ronda, and I was the champion, the best in the world. That’s why I say that. They hurt me a lot. I fought that day with anger.” 

UFC color commentator Joe Rogan recently agreed with Nunes’ thoughts during an interview last week with ESPN’s 5ive Rounds podcast. 

“This was something that really bothered me about the Ronda Rousey-Amanda Nunes fight,” Rogan said. “I’m like, ‘Look, you’re doing all of these amazing promos, they are fantastic, but you are only highlighting this one fighter. You are only highlighting Ronda Rousey.’ The other woman is the champion. She’s the champion of the world and that’s a very important distinction. That has to be respected.”  

Immediately after the fight, Nunes mocked Rousey on social media with a post she later apologized for. After initially saying she doesn’t believe Rousey will ever fight again, Nunes said on Friday she hopes Rousey (12-2) will return and was open to the idea of a rematch.  

“She needs to take some time to recover,” Nunes said. “A loss is something tough. I’ve lost before, you need great people around you, your family, people giving you positive energy. I want to see Ronda coming back, her finishing her career with a win. Every athlete deserves that. I don’t want it to end this way because it’s sad. 

“I won, but I don’t wish her any harm. I want her to come back and maybe, who knows, a rematch in the future? It would be perfect.”