Issue 199

August 2023

Combat sports can be so unforgiving, and all too often fighters' retirements can be a somber moment. But that wasn't the case when Amanda Nunes called time on her incredible career at UFC 289.

Nunes had just dominated Irene Aldana to retain her UFC women's bantamweight title and improve her career record to 23 wins, five losses, when, during her post-fight interview, she announced that she was calling it a career.

"Where’s the scissors!" she shouted at the start of her post-fight interview, before shouting "Double champ forever!" as the cutman cut off her gloves for the final time.

"Today, I just tied with Anderson Silva by defending the belt," she said.

"So tonight is the perfect time to retire and live happy forever!"

She then laid down her two championship belts, along with her gloves, and kissed them as the crowd chanted "Nunes! Nunes!"

"My mum has been asking me so much for me to do this for so long. She cannot take it anymore," she continued.

"Nina has been with me for my whole career. We’ve been on this road for so long.

"So I decided (to retire) right now. I’m still young and I can enjoy everything that I made, you know? I’m gonna travel a little bit with my family

"I’ve got to spend more time with my family in Brazil, as well. I left them so young to come and chase my dream and everything. I always had doubt in my mind that I would become a champion. But when I became a champion, it was unbelievable, a double champion!"

It was a truly magic moment for the best female fighter in MMA history, as "The Lioness" went out on top.