Nunes on being first openly gay UFC champion: It's amazing

The UFC was born from Vale Tudo challenges and contests in Brazil. And for years, Brazilians remained among the very best in the sport. In time, the world caught up.

On Friday, there were no Brazilian UFC champions. Saturday, Jose Aldo defeated Frankie Edgar to win the Interim featherweight championship, setting up a rematch with featherweight champion Conor McGregor. Then in the main event, Brazil’s Amanda Nunes defeated former women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate, and then there were two.

Nunes also became the second UFC champion training at American Top Team, after middleweight champion Robbie Lawler.

And with Nunes’ ascension to the title, there was a first – she became the first openly gay UFC champion.

“It’s amazing,” said Nunes of her pioneering status, as transcribed by Marc Raimondi for MMA Fighting. “The most important thing is I’m happy with my life. That’s the most important thing.”

Nunes’ long-time girlfriend (and ATT training partner) Nina Ansaroff is also a world-class fighter, in the UFC women’s strawweight division.

https://twitter.com/Amanda_Leoa/status/752678650923847680

“Nina is the best training partner I’ve ever had in my life,” said Nunes. “This girl is going to be the next UFC champion. I’m telling you. Look at her, she’s shy. This girl has so many talents.

“She means everything to me. This girl, she helps me with everything. … I love her.”

The UFC is a hypermacho organization, where the women could crush the average man, but it is also a strong supporter of gay rights, in ways large and small.

The UFC recently made a “We Are All Fighters” t-shirt in conjunction with the LGBTQ Center of Las Vegas, to promote gay and lesbian equality. The apparel was on sale during UFC International Fight Week, and will go on sale online in future.? All proceeds from sales of the shirts go to the community center.

“Just as it takes courage to step into the Octagon, it takes courage to stand for what you believe in,” said UFC COO Lawrence Epstein. “And we’re proud to stand with members of the LGBTQ community in their fight for equality. As friends and allies of the LGBTQ community, our hope is to raise awareness and help support community groups like the LGBTQ Center that directly impact LGBTQ individuals.”?

While a number of fighters wore the tee during fight week, the league’s struggle with bigotry is not over.

During a Fan Q&A, Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone was asked about Interim light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier’s fighting not to lose strategy vs. the UFC G.O.A.T. Anderson Silva.

“How you gonna give up weight and then fight like a f*g, man?” replied Cerrone.

The fighter publicly corrected himself, with a heartfelt message on his social network.

“Earlier today, I said something that was offensive & I’m truly sorry,” he wrote on Instagram. “I’ve got so many friends and fans in the LGBTQ community who I let down today. I can and will be better because I respect the community and equality matters!”

So the sport, and humanity, have a ways to go still, but the work is being put in at the elite level of mixed martial arts. That is something to be proud of.

And the UFC has an awesome new champion: