Amanda Nunes needed only 48 seconds to end Ronda Rousey’s UFC comeback and possibly her MMA career.
The UFC women’s bantamweight champion defended her title in a very convincing manner, dominating her opponent from the start and rocking her with a haymaker.
Rousey then had no reply to a devastating flurry of punches from Nunes and could have no complaints about the bout being stopped. We doubt there’ll be a rematch.
Absolutely devastating https://t.co/bqKtOI0xSm
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) December 31, 2016
It was Rousey’s first fight in over a year.
The 29-year-old was knocked unconscious with a kick to the head by Holly Holm in Melbourne last November, a defeat which shattered any sense of invincibility she had previously held.
After winning her first 12 MMA fights in dominating fashion, Rousey has now lost her last two bouts and faces an uncertain future in the sport.
Nunes is in no doubt about what Rousey should do next, saying her opponent “has to retire.”
The end of the road for Rousey? https://t.co/hsktmWM6sA
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) December 31, 2016
“She is a millionaire already why would she want to keep doing that? Why would she want to keep getting hurt,” Nunes said in the post-fight press conference.
The Brazilian fighter also revealed what she said to Rousey in the Octagon following her stunning victory.
Nunes, despite urging Rousey to retire, also showed respect to the crestfallen fighter.
“I told her ‘you did a lot for the sport’,” Nunes said.
“‘You did a lot, but now you can take time and do something else. You don’t need to keep doing that (sic).”
Nunes also explained a gesture she made towards Rousey’s corner following the fight. The Brazilian was pinning some of the blame for Rousey’s defeat on her coach.
According to Nunes, Rousey’s coach convinced her that she was a capable boxer, and lost sight of her judo skills.
“He made the girl believe in that. I don’t know why he did that.”
