Nunes to Rousey: Switch camps and win again

Ronda Rousey was the first UFC women’s bantamweight champion, and then defended her title like no one in the sport’s history. The belt was bestowed upon her and she defended it twice before hitting an extraordinary groove. Rousey beat Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann in 1:06; that’s incredible. Then Rousey beat Alexis Davis, Cat Zingano, and Bethe Correia in a combined 1:04; that will never, ever happen again.

Rousey appeared to be unbeatable until November 15, 2015, when she lost to Holly Holm. The belt thereafter went from untakable to unholdable for a time. After Rousey lost her title to Holm, Holm lost her title to Miesha Tate, who lost her title to Amanda Nunes, all in the space of eight months. Now things have settled

Now things have settled. Rousey returned and got Ronda Rousey’d – losing via strikes in the first seconds. At 0:48 it was official.

There are strong doubts as to whether Rousey will ever return. However, speaking recently with Fox 11 Los Angeles, Nunes did something Rousey was not known for – she offered kind words for a defeated opponent. To appreciate the force of Nunes’ advice, you have to understand her history.

Amanda Nunes began her pro career in Brazil with a loss. Then she hit her stride and won five in a row there, beating Ediane Gomes and Vanessa Porto at the end. She was picked up by Strikeforce, but went 50-50.

Nunes was coming off a loss in Strikeforce when the UFC acquired the entire promotion; ZUFFA declined to pick up her contract. She moved to Invicta where she again went 50-50, winning one and then losing one.

The UFC is not in the habit of picking up 50-50 fighters, but they offered her a contract and she did better, winning two in a row. Then she lost a title eliminator to Cat Zingano.

Fighting internationally Nunes was just 4-3, but instead of quitting, she improved, moving to ATT alongside her girlfriend Nina Ansaroff and many other top fighters. And then, finally, at long last, Amanda Nunes soared.

She won three in a row, beat Miesha Tate for the belt, and then defended it successfully against Ronda Rousey. She thinks Ronda Rousey can beat a bad run, too.

I already passed this moment in my career,” said Nunes as transcribed by Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting. “It’s harder to lose but if you be strong, you’ll be able to come back like I did. Make some changes, adjust. The passion in her life, the family has to be with her. The base is very important. Make some changes in her camp, move to another gym and come back strong.

Nunes also discussed the fight with Rousey frankly.

I think it was ego,” she said. “I knew she was gonna try to strike with me and I think that was the completely wrong strategy to fight a girl like me…

When I landed I saw, in that moment I saw in her eyes she was done. That [first punch] was the moment that I saw something. Like scared; scared if I connect the other hand because it was the jab.

Next is the 145 belt, to move up to featherweight.

Where Nunes switched teams and became a champion following an important loss, Rousey stayed with her camp, and lost again, looking worse by far than she had in the previous fight. Nunes is doubtless right, that Rousey could switching teams and improve dramatically. Whether she will is very much another question.