Amanda Nunes has named Cris Cyborg as the toughest opponent she has ever prepared to face, insisting that the Brazilian's size and knockout power made her a particularly dangerous challenge.
Nunes is preparing to make her long-awaited return to the Octagon this Saturday, where she will face Kayla Harrison in the co-main event of UFC 334. With Harrison currently holding the UFC women's bantamweight championship, Nunes was asked during her pre-fight media availability whether her upcoming opponent represents the toughest test of her career.
However, the former two-division champion pointed to her memorable clash with Cyborg at UFC 232 in December 2018 as the biggest challenge of her fighting career.
Nunes produced a stunning first-round knockout victory over Cyborg that night, capturing the featherweight title and becoming a simultaneous two-division UFC champion for the first time.
Reflecting on the fight, Nunes explained why Cyborg remains the most formidable opponent she has ever faced.
“Cyborg was [the toughest] in every respect. Size wise too, Cyborg’s huge, Cyborg is like double of Kayla, you know? And Cyborg could knock me out, though. You know what I mean? The power that woman has. And [she] never lost before…all those things, you know?” Nunes said.
While acknowledging that her upcoming showdown with Harrison presents a different kind of challenge, Nunes made it clear that defeating Cyborg to become a double champion remains the defining achievement of her career.
“This fight is different, but my biggest one in history was becoming double champion against Cyborg for sure,” she added.
