Voting is now open for the 12th annual World MMA Awards. Head here to vote for your favourite fighters and MMA personalities.
Fighters Only has extended the nomination period from 12 months to 18 months (1st January 2019 – 30th June 2020) to best account for all global MMA action and performances.
The star-studded, black-tie 2020 World MMA Awards event will be held in October 2020 on a date and location to be announced.
In the lead-up to the big show, we are profiling each of the 12th annual World MMA Awards nominees.
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Amanda Nunes is nominated for the Female Fighter of the Year in the 12th annual World MMA Awards.
Amanda Nunes has spent her last 18 months cementing her legacy as one of the finest fighters to have ever set foot into a cage.
Fresh off a big knockout win over Cris “Cyborg”, “The Lioness” entered 2019 as a dual UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion and kept hold of both belts for the next year-and-a-half with three dominant victories.
She kicked off her run of fights against former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm at UFC 239 in July, 2019.
After a pensive, feint-heavy opening four minutes, the contest soon exploded into life as the aggression from Nunes and Holm increased with both fighters looking to finish the round on a positive note.
Those aforementioned feints paid dividends for Nunes as Holm reacted to a faked overhand right and a jab before receiving the Brazilian’s shin to the face.
That stunning head kick sent Holm crashing down to the mat and some follow-up punches from Nunes saw her make the fourth successful defence of her UFC women’s bantamweight title.
Next up for Nunes was a rematch against Dutch kickboxer Germaine de Randamie. And at UFC 245, The Lioness rounded off 2019 with another dominant display to retain her championship at 135 pounds.
From rounds one to five, Nunes displayed her grappling prowess in both takedowns and control on the canvas to totally nullify de Randamie’s respected striking skills.
Nunes came close to finishing the fight in the opening stanza, but de Randamie’s toughness saw her grit through a gruelling first five minutes. And aside from a couple of moments in the second round, Nunes totally dictated where the fight went and cruised to a deserved unanimous decision victory.
Now with five UFC women’s bantamweight title defences under her belt, it was time for Nunes to attempt in defending her featherweight championship for the first time.
At UFC 250, Nunes took on Canada’s Felicia Spencer behind closed doors in her first appearance at 145 pounds since knocking out compatriot Cyborg at the end of 2018.
Nunes put in a near-flawless performance against the tough-as-nails Spencer to win a landslide unanimous decision.
Whether she wanted to control and dole out punishment on the ground or play with Spencer on the feet, Nunes was levels above anywhere and everywhere in their contest.
A lesser woman would not have made it out of those five rounds and Spencer’s heart shone nearly as much as Nunes’ superior skillset.
With that comprehensive victory, Nunes became the only UFC fighter to have ever defended two titles held simultaneously.
That’s on top of other accolades such as extending her record of most wins in UFC history among women (13), the most wins in UFC title fights among women (eight) and the longest winning streak in UFC history among women (11).
Nunes’ last 18 months have been spectacular as they have been impressive.
Is Amanda Nunes your Female Fighter of the Year?
Voting is now open for the 12th annual World MMA Awards.
Head here to vote for your favourite fighters and MMA personalities.
