Amanda Nunes is the greatest women’s MMA fighter of all time. She holds the UFC titles at bantamweight and featherweight. On top of that, she has beaten every other woman who has held either one of those belts. But, according to Nunes herself, even the GOAT can have weaknesses. Whether or not her foe can exploit them? That might be a different story.
“I’m a human,” Nunes told reporters Wednesday. “Everyone has holes in the game. But it’s harder when you’re in front of that person to really see that. This is, I feel like, the biggest thing with my opponents. They think they’ll be able to see all my holes. But when they step in front of me, they know everything is different.”
Nunes will defend her featherweight belt against Felicia Spencer at UFC 250 on Saturday night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Nunes is trying to become the first fighter in UFC history to defend two titles simultaneously. She has held the bantamweight title since 2016 and the featherweight belt since 2018.
Nunes (19-4) has won 10 fights in a row going back to 2014, with five bantamweight title defenses in that span. The Brazil native has the most wins in UFC history among women (12) and the most wins in UFC title fights among women (7). Nunes, 32, has wins over the likes of Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm, Miesha Tate and Valentina Shevchenko.
Spencer (8-1) stopped Zarah Fairn Dos Santos via first-round TKO in February to earn the title shot. The Florida resident is trying to become only the third Canadian to ever win a UFC title. Spencer, 29, has only one career loss — to Cyborg at UFC 240 last July.
In the co-main event, former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt will try to snap a three-fight winning streak against Raphael Assuncao. Another huge bantamweight title fight — UFC president Dana White has called it a No. 1-contender bout — will pit Cory Sandhagen and Aljamain Sterling.
Also on the UFC 250 card, blue chip bantamweight prospect Sean O’Malley faces veteran Eddie Wineland, Neil Magny takes on Anthony Rocco Martin at welterweight and top flyweights Jussier Formiga and Alex Perez square off.
Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi and Jeff Wagenheim recap all the action as it happens on Saturday night.
Still to come:
Women’s featherweight: Amanda Nunes (c) (19-4, 13-1 UFC, -650) vs. Felicia Spencer (8-1, 2-1 UFC, +475)
Men’s bantamweight: Raphael Assuncao (27-7, 11-4 UFC, -115) vs. Cody Garbrandt (11-3, 6-3 UFC, -105)
Men’s bantamweight: Aljamain Sterling (18-3, 10-3 UFC, -115) vs. Cory Sandhagen (12-1, 5-0 UFC, -105)
Welterweight: Neil Magny (22-8, 15-6 UFC, -135) vs. Anthony Rocco Martin (17-5, 9-5 UFC, +115)
Men’s bantamweight: Eddie Wineland (24-13, 6-7 UFC, +400) vs. Sean O’Malley (11-0, 3-0 UFC, -500)
Men’s featherweight: Alex Caceres (15-12, 11-10 UFC, +160) vs. Chase Hooper (9-0-1, 1-0 UFC, -180)
Middleweight: Ian Heinisch (13-3, 2-2 UFC) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (30-12, 6-4 UFC)
Men’s bantamweight: Cody Stamann (18-2-1, 4-1-1 UFC, -260) vs. Brian Kelleher (21-10, 5-3 UFC, +220)
Middleweight: Charles Byrd (10-6, 1-2 UFC, -165) vs. Maki Pitolo (12-5, 0-1 UFC, +145)
Men’s flyweight: Alex Perez (23-5, 5-1 UFC, -135) vs. Jussier Formiga (23-7, 8-4 UFC, +115)
Light heavyweight: Alonzo Menifield (9-0, 2-0 UFC, -230) vs. Devin Clark (11-4, 5-4 UFC, +190)
Catchweight (150 pounds) Evan Dunham (18-8-1, 11-8-1 UFC, +190) vs. Herbert Burns (10-2, 1-0 UFC, -230)