Amanda Nunes is back. Already considered the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time, Nunes avenged the lone blemish in her recent run on Saturday night by dismantling Julianna Pena over five rounds to earn back her bantamweight title.
"The Lioness" took apart Pena with her speed and accuracy on the feet in the opening round before really putting on a clinic in the second. Nunes scored three knockdowns in Round 2 as Pena continued to charge in wildly while Nunes planted counter right hands on her chin. The three knockdowns set a record for most in a women's fight in UFC history.
From there, Nunes took the battle to the ground as she opened up a huge gash on Pena's hairline in the third round with an elbow from mount. The cut would only get worse as the fight continued on, leaving Pena a bloody mess by the end of the final round.
Pena nearly scored another upset in Round 4. The now former champion pressed her foot against the fence and swung into an armbar as Nunes chased into clinch and grapple with a takedown. The submission attempt was deep and Nunes fought hard to wrangle free. The close call was reminiscent of UFC 152 when Vitor Belfort came close to submitting UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones with the same entry into an armbar.
Nunes also made history by joining Deiveson Figueiredo in being a former champ to win back his title in an immediate rematch. Nunes improved to 22-5 overall and adds Julianna Pena to a hitlist boasting Valentina Shevchenko (twice), Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, Miesha Tate and Germaine de Randamie. Pena dropped to 11-5 as a professional overall.
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Plus, Brandon Moreno is once again wearing gold around his waist as the Mexican scored a brutal knockout of Kai Kara-France via body kick to earn the interim flyweight title. Moreno called into the cage currently titleholder Deiveson Figuieredo so the two could bury the hatchet ahead of their expected fourth meeting for the full title.
CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday bringing you all the results and highlights from the UFC 277 below.
UFC 277 card and results
- Amanda Nunes def. Julianna Pena (c) via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-43)
- Brandon Moreno (ic) def. Kai Kara-France via third-round TKO (kick, punches)
- Sergei Pavlovich def. Derrick Lewis via first-round TKO (punches)
- Alexandre Pantoja def. Alex Perez via first-round submission (rear naked choke)
- Magomed Ankalaev def. Anthony Smith via second-round TKO (punches)
- Alex Morono def. Matthew Semelsberger via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Drew Dober def. Rafael Alves via third-round knockout (punch)
- Hamdy Abdelwahab def. Don'Tale Mayes via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Drakkar Klose def. Rafa Garcia via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Michael Morales def. Adam Fugitt via third-round TKO (punches)
- Joselyne Edwards def. Ji Yeon Kim via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
- Nicolae Negumereanu def. Ihor Potieria second-round TKO (knees)
- Orion Cosce def. Blood Diamond via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)