“It was a power puncher versus a wrestler matchup, and I proved I can take a punch”, Lesnar said.
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Questions then flowed to Lesnar about what he would do in the future but he had no firm plans, other than to return to his WWE commitments.
“I’m going back to Brazil to see my family and I’m bringing this [belt] with me”, Nunes said, exorting, “Brazil!” However, in his last fight in February, he took Michael Bisping to the limit before losing a decision. “I respect Miesha a lot”.
“When I saw she was hurt, I controlled myself, because I know she can come back, ” Nunes said.
Like Tate and Holm before her, Nunes wasn’t given a chance by most – Tate was seen as too resilient, too determined and too gritty.
A jubilant Amanda Nunes celebrated after upsetting Miesha Tate during UFC 200. Two nights later, Nunes (13-4) became not just the first Brazilian woman to reign but also the first out LGBT athlete to win a UFC championship. Lesnar attempted to finish the fight early, but Hunt refused to succumb.
The UFC announced Lesnar’s return to the Octagon in June, a little more than one month before UFC 200.
Tate was rocked early by punches from strike specialist Nunes, who switched her attention to submission attempts when the fight went to the mat and quickly finished Tate with a rear naked choke after 3:16 of the first round.
“Just as it takes courage to step into the Octagon, it takes courage to stand for what you believe in – and we’re proud to stand with members of the LGBTQ community in their fight for equality”, UFC senior executive vice president and COO Lawrence Epstein said in a statement. All three judges scored it 30-26 for Cormier.
“Nina is the best training partner I’ve ever had in my life”, Nunes said.
He is still a major draw for the sport and his main event with Frank Mir at UFC 100 in 2009 holds the record for the most pay-per-view buys in the UFC history.
Two-time heavyweight titleholder Cain Velasquez (242.5 pounds) will lock horns with Travis Browne (244 pounds), while a potential female bantamweight title eliminator headlines the FOX Sports 1 preliminary card as Cat Zingano (135.5 pounds) dances with Julianna Pena (135.5 pounds).
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The 12-fight card was packed with what looked like remarkably even matchups, yet the first three fights ended with first-round stoppage victories for UFC veterans Joe Lauzon, Jim Miller, and Gegard Mousasi.
