Amanda Nunes Record: 23-5-0

Climbing to the title

A 2014 TKO loss to Cat Zingano proved to be the last meaningful setback of her prime. Nunes reeled off finishes of Shayna Baszler and Sara McMann in 2015, then outpointed future flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko in March 2016 to earn her title shot.

Two-division dominance

Nunes captured the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship at UFC 200 in July 2016, submitting Miesha Tate with a first-round rear-naked choke. She announced herself to the world six months later, demolishing Ronda Rousey with a first-round TKO at UFC 207. After a split-decision win in her rematch with Valentina Shevchenko and a fifth-round finish of Raquel Pennington, she made history at UFC 232 in December 2018, knocking out featherweight champion Cris Cyborg in 51 seconds to become a simultaneous two-division titleholder. She defended that reign with a first-round head-kick TKO of Holly Holm in July 2019, decisions over Germaine de Randamie and Felicia Spencer, and a first-round submission of Megan Anderson in March 2021.

Upset, redemption and a final bow

The Lioness's aura cracked at UFC 269 in December 2021, when Julianna Peña submitted her with a second-round rear-naked choke in one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. Nunes answered emphatically at UFC 277 in July 2022, dominating Peña over five rounds to reclaim the bantamweight title. She closed her career on top, retaining the belt with a one-sided unanimous decision over Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023 before stepping away from the sport as a reigning champion.

Fighting style

Nunes was the rare fighter who could end a contest with one punch or one grappling sequence. Her 23-5 record carries a 74% finish rate, the highest mark among her peers in this batch, built on 13 knockouts and four submissions. Her power, particularly that overhand right, made her terrifying in the opening minutes, while her jiu-jitsu added a genuine second avenue to victory, as her finishes of Tate, McMann and Anderson showed. The honest caveat is that her early, frantic pace could be a liability if a fight went long against a durable opponent – the Peña upset being the cautionary example – but at her best, across two divisions, she was simply the most complete and dangerous woman the sport had seen.

Career highlights

• Two-division UFC champion — knocked out Cris Cyborg in 51 seconds at UFC 232 to add the featherweight belt to her bantamweight crown and hold both titles at once.
• Slayer of legends — finished Ronda Rousey, Cyborg and Miesha Tate, beating the era's defining names to cement her GOAT case.
• Retired on top — defended her bantamweight title with a dominant decision over Irene Aldana at UFC 289 and walked away as a reigning champion.