Author: Chandra Moulee Das
After a dominant performance on Saturday night at UFC 289, held at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada, Amanda Nunes has decided to retire from her career and go out on a high note.
The 35-year-old announced her retirement from the UFC after defeating Irene Aldana by unanimous decision to retain her bantamweight title. Nunes, who also held the featherweight belt, leaves the sport as a two-time champion and one of the greatest fighters to have ever passed through the octagon. She is the first and only fighter to successfully defend two UFC titles simultaneously.
Although Nunes didn’t finish Aldana as he has done to many others in the past, the fight was very one-sided. She showed total control throughout the fight, landing three times as many punches as Aldana and almost quadrupling her in significant blows. It was a fight that looked like target practice for Nunes.
Charles Oliveira – Beneil Dariush
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Charles Oliveira, aiming to regain his position at the top of the UFC’s lightweight division, quickly dispatched fellow champion Beneil Dariush. The former champion sealed his victory with a technical knockout at the end of the first round.
In his first fight since losing to Islam Makhachev in October, Oliveira has positioned himself favourably for a rematch and an opportunity to regain his belt and record his 12th win in his last 13 fights.
His game plan unfolded exactly as the 33-year-old fighter wanted. The Brazilian successfully fought Dariush on the ground, where he excels, and when he got back to his feet, he hit the fourth-ranked lightweight relentlessly until the referee stopped the fight. Oliveira has expressed his intentions to face Makhachev at any time and seek another shot at becoming the lightweight champion.
Maria Oliveira – Diana Belbita
Diana Belbita returned to the octagon after a year’s break to fight Maria Oliveira at UFC 289. Both athletes had a history of defeats in the UFC, with their jobs at stake. Despite Oliveira’s resilience and never-give-up attitude, it was clear that she had lost when the final bell rang.
Two judges gave all three rounds to Diana Belbita, while one judge scored it 29-28. Regardless, Belbita comfortably secured victory in front of her adopted country, expressing gratitude to the Canadian public for their support.