Can the GOAT get her gold again? Amanda Nunes refocused for rematch at UFC 277

SUNRISE, FLA. — AMANDA NUNES SAT in a chair inside her new fitness center, working down all of its options like an excited real-estate agent making an attempt to woo her first purchaser.

The Lioness Studio has a beneficiant stretch of mat area for coaching, a full-sized cage, exercise gear and a small sauna. Upstairs is a lounge with a tv for movie examine, a kitchen and a bed room if anybody desires to catch a nap and even keep in a single day.

Nunes stated there are nonetheless options that must be added, however one specific factor stands out above all of the others.

Nunes, the best girls’s MMA fighter of all time, is the present UFC girls’s featherweight champion and the previous UFC girls’s bantamweight champion. All these championship belts she has gained are at her residence and can stay there. Just one title will grace the brand new Lioness Studio, an ample industrial area about 11 miles west of Fort Lauderdale. And Nunes does not have it in her possession. Not less than not but.

Julianna Peña defeated Nunes final December at UFC 269 in a surprising upset to win the UFC girls’s bantamweight title. On Saturday, in the principle occasion of UFC 277 in Dallas (10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV), Nunes may have her likelihood to recapture the bantamweight gold she first gained in 2016. If Nunes avenges the loss, she already has a distinguished place to indicate off the title.

“The center of the mat,” Nunes instructed ESPN. “As a result of I wish to stroll in and see that, particularly within the place we constructed to get that factor again.”

Since dropping the belt seven months in the past, issues have been a whirlwind for Nunes. She left her longtime fitness center, American Prime Group (ATT), after now not feeling snug there, filmed The Ultimate Fighter opposite Peña, rehabbed the dangerous knees that bothered her going into the primary battle, and located and constructed out her personal, new facility alongside together with her spouse, Nina. The rematch will cap a 12-week coaching camp at Lioness Studio, the place she labored with coach Roger Krahl, who had been in Nunes’ nook for a few of her greatest fights.

The loss and the modifications, Nunes stated, have reignited the aggressive fireplace inside her which may have been missing in latest months and years, a aspect impact of her dominance. Nunes had gained 12 straight going into the Peña battle with eight finishes. She grew to become the primary girl to carry UFC titles in two totally different weight lessons concurrently and the primary fighter, man or girl, to defend each whereas holding the belts.

Nunes has overwhelmed each girl who has ever held both the UFC girls’s bantamweight or featherweight titles — with the latest exception of Peña. In June, UFC president Dana White stated in an interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that Nunes is “wealthy” now and “not that hungry savage” she was on her means up. White, Nunes acknowledged, may not have been flawed in his evaluation.

“I used to be dominating,” Nunes stated. “I develop into a double champion, and I all the time do all these issues, like kill all these women, clear the division. So, I sort of slowed down, too. I did it. … I used to be like snug — too snug. I used to be in a second like, ‘No person is basically gonna beat me’ till Julianna got here into the image. Now, it is like one other pleasure. Let’s go. I like this. That is difficult.

“After I do not feel challenges, issues decelerate. I do not know why, however it’s how it’s with me. I prefer to really feel trapped. I just like the challenges. That’s going to carry the joy again for me to carry my finest the day of the battle.”

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AFTER NUNES LOST the title to Peña, she and Nina determined to hire a automobile and drive the greater than 2,500 miles again to Florida. It was simply the three of them — Nunes, Nina and their daughter, Raegan. There was quite a bit to consider and the couple wished time to mirror on how they’d sort out the longer term.

Nunes, Nina stated, went via a number of totally different feelings in the course of the weeklong street journey. At numerous occasions in the course of the journey, Nunes ran the gamut between not being certain if she wished to battle once more to desirous to battle Peña on the subsequent out there pay-per-view card.

“It was a seven-day street journey and every day there was a special feeling,” Nina stated. “I believe it was an excellent drive. I believe she wanted it.”

Among the time on that lengthy drive was spent speaking about whether or not Nunes ought to’ve confronted Peña on that date. Nunes was fighting sprains in each knees and had a tough time coaching. Nina stated she’d prepare two days every week for Peña and the remainder of the times have been spent icing her achy joints. Nunes felt strain to not pull out as a result of she withdrew from a scheduled battle with Peña in August 2021 due to COVID-19. Nunes stated she nonetheless is not certain if she ought to have competed then.

“I really feel like all of us made the error, me and my coaches,” Nunes stated. “All of us misplaced collectively. I really feel like I take all of the accountability for that.”

That automobile experience additionally featured the definitive dialog about how Nunes would prepare sooner or later. Nunes determined she would go away ATT, the place she had educated for eight years, and open up a personal fitness center on her personal, with new coaches. It is one thing she had considered for years, Nina stated, however the timing by no means felt proper as a result of Nunes was on a protracted profitable streak and crushing the competitors.

Nunes and Nina, who continues to be coaching at ATT, stated there aren’t any laborious emotions with ATT and so they stay pals with proprietor Dan Lambert. The primary difficulty, Nunes stated, was having an area all her personal with out lots of of professional fighters round. She wished coaches and a coaching camp constructed round her. The coaches at ATT are busy and sometimes journey to nook different fighters, which in Nunes’ opinion can generally take away from a coaching camp’s rhythm.

“You may have that flexibility to do no matter you need together with your coaching, as a result of the coach is all the time gonna be there for you,” Nunes stated of her new scenario. “That has made it quite a bit simpler to maintain evolving and carry on the identical web page of your coaching and your schedule.”

Many speculated that the rise of two-time PFL girls’s light-weight champion Kayla Harrison at ATT was why Nunes left, as a result of the 2 would possibly someday battle one another. Nina stated that is not actually true, however “it did not assist.” Harrison, a former two-time Olympic judo champion, was at UFC 269 and met with UFC executives the night time earlier than to debate signing with the promotion. Harrison ended up re-signing with PFL, however that week it appeared like Nunes and Harrison could possibly be on a collision course sooner slightly than later.

“In fact, [Harrison] is pals with Amanda and she or he was cheering Amanda on,” Nina stated. “[Harrison] comes from judo, which is a sport the place you do compete in opposition to your teammates to get a spot. For her, it was a special outlook than Amanda, who got here from a conventional Brazilian fitness center the place it is like — there’s just one.”

Nina stated she felt an analogous means six years in the past when then-UFC girls’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrjzejczyk got here to ATT to coach. A number of ATT fighters in that division, together with Nina and Tecia Torres, had already been at ATT for a very long time. ATT is not any stranger to this sort of factor. Former roommates and finest pals Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington had a very messy — and very public — falling out, leading to Covington being thrown out of the fitness center. Robbie Lawler additionally left ATT, the place he remade his profession, within the aftermath of his 2016 UFC welterweight title loss to Tyron Woodley, one other ATT-affiliated athlete.

“It is a spot the place you are purported to really feel protected and it is your house,” Nina stated. “And Amanda did not really feel protected there anymore. … She was the primary double champ in that fitness center, the primary feminine champ that introduced the belt to the fitness center. And he or she simply sort of felt somewhat disrespected.”

Lambert instructed ESPN that he is undecided why Nunes would really feel uncomfortable or disrespected, however he stated, “there is a cause why we do not have contracts with fighters.”

“If they do not wish to be at our fitness center for any cause in any respect, then either side are higher off parting methods,” stated Lambert, who can be Nunes’ former supervisor. “I’ve nothing however good issues to say about Amanda and can all the time root for her.”

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NUNES DIDN’T MAKE her resolution to depart ATT public, however it was reported within the Brazilian media earlier than there was even a plan on what she would do subsequent, Nina stated. Shortly after, Nunes was referred to as by the UFC to return to Las Vegas to educate in opposition to Peña on The Final Fighter. Nunes introduced Nina and a few of her new coaches, together with Krahl, to assist out on the present.

Nunes stated she anticipated Peña to speak loads of trash in the course of the filming of the present as a result of Nunes believes Peña enjoys being “within the highlight.” However that is not essentially the way it went down. Peña didn’t keep it up with among the earlier barbs, reminiscent of accusing Nunes a number of occasions final 12 months of avoiding a battle together with her.

“Truly, she was like fairly calm,” Nunes stated. “I really feel like she did not wish to look dangerous on TV. … I really feel like she wished to be a greater champion than what she confirmed the final couple of months. I really feel like she was truly an excellent competitor, extra conservative. Not being so loud, like she normally is.”

Regardless of that, Nunes stated she hasn’t altered her opinion of Peña. Nunes stated Peña was “mendacity” when she claimed Nunes was ducking her final 12 months.

“I believe she’s the identical,” Nunes stated. “She did not change that a lot. I really feel like we’re gonna see one another quickly and I am gonna take my belt again. Nothing she says or does is gonna change that.”

As soon as Nunes and her staff returned to Florida in April, timing grew to become an actual difficulty. The rematch was scheduled for late July, however Nunes did not have a spot to do her coaching camp. Pushing again the battle date wasn’t an choice, since Final Fighter coaches historically battle on the finish of every season.

So, Nunes and Nina scoured totally different buildings in Broward County close to their residence, with various levels of curiosity. One area was small and wanted loads of work, and one other had a problem with the lease. Lastly, Nina’s aunt introduced them to a constructing she owned with an workplace on the highest flooring and an enormous industrial storage on the underside. As quickly as Nunes noticed the massive space to work with, she was offered.

“I all the time inform Nina that after I stroll in right here, I really feel the identical means as after I walked into American Prime Group for the primary time in my life,” Nunes stated. “It is the identical feeling after I step on this fitness center daily. That is the place that I am gonna carry my belt that I am purported to have and by mistake I let it go. However that is the place that I am gonna carry it again to and I am gonna put it proper right here.”

For a few month, Nunes, Nina and Nina’s father labored on the fitness center, placing down mats, putting in exercise gear and placing posters on the partitions. Nina’s brothers needed to go and decide up the cage from North Carolina and drive it down. Typically, the times stretched deep into the early hours of the morning. Throughout that point, Nunes was additionally rehabbing her knees to get them proper for coaching camp.

“All we did in right here, we find it irresistible,” Nunes stated. “I really feel like if you do one thing and also you’re captivated with it, the whole lot comes collectively straightforward.”

The brand new fitness center, Nunes stated, has introduced her a way of peace. The one folks allowed in are folks whom Nunes invited: her coaches, coaching companions, family and friends. Although it is greater than 3,000 sq. ft, it is an intimate setting in comparison with the cavernous ATT, a spot the place the almost 2-year-old Raegan has an space from which she will see the complete fitness center whereas she watches Disney motion pictures.

Lioness Studio is a personal facility. Because of native zoning ordinances, Nunes is not capable of have paid members, so it’s going to stay only for her and her coaching companions, she stated. After her preventing profession, Nunes stated she would possibly open up a fitness center for professional fighters and civilians as members, however she’s undecided but whether or not or not she desires to dwell the lifetime of an MMA coach — and all of the touring that comes with it — after a protracted profession competing.

For teaching, Nunes tabbed Krahl, who coached her at ATT till he left in 2018. Krahl, who owns the close by ATT Dawn affiliate, was in Nunes’ nook when she knocked out Ronda Rousey in December 2016.

Together with Krahl, Nunes has been working with Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach Bobby Casale and wrestling coach Patrick Nagel. Alex Chambers, a UFC veteran Nunes and Nina have identified for years from ATT, has additionally been part of Nunes’ camp. Krahl stated Nunes is one hundred pc after the knee accidents and he is “very assured” in her forward of this rematch with Peña.

“She’s received the gasoline tank, she will push 5 rounds of a brawl, 5 rounds of a tough, laborious battle,” Krahl stated of Nunes. “And that is what she’s ready for. Nonetheless, I believe the safer guess might be a first-round end.”

This model of Nunes, Krahl stated, is the most effective one he has seen. He stated he might inform from afar that she may need let her foot off the gasoline a bit as a result of she had so few challenges. Nina admitted that her spouse loved her life fairly a bit over the previous few years — consuming chocolate cake every week earlier than a battle or consuming a beer or three — and nonetheless handily beat everybody in entrance of her, till she bumped into Peña. This Nunes, Nina stated, is the UFC 200 model, the one who choked out Miesha Tate and obliterated Rousey.

“It is only a vengeance,” Krahl stated. “She’s the Lioness, man, and she or he’s gonna go searching and she or he is hungry. Like she is [now], I’ve by no means seen her within the years I’ve identified her this motivated. And it is scary. Her sparring companions we have needed to rotate via as a result of she’s abusing them.”

The Lioness Studio is practical and prepared. Most significantly, it already has all of the facilities that Nunes wants. Now she desires to place the ending touches on it. And meaning bringing the belt again and gently inserting it proper within the heart of the mats, for all who go to to see.

“It is gonna be a brand new period,” Nunes stated. “I am gonna get that factor again in my very own fitness center. So, that is gonna be one thing totally different. I wish to have the belt right here, in my fitness center. So, it is a new starting in my life. I am very excited and I can not look ahead to that.”