Amanda Nunes retires at UFC 289
Amanda Nunes’ retirement at UFC 289 in Vancouver shook the UFC, leaving two divisions without champions. In this article, we will explore the aftermath of Nunes’ decision and the potential matchups that could shape the future of the women’s bantamweight title and the lightweight division.
Nunes’ Retirement and the Vacant UFC Titles
Amanda Nunes, the first fighter to retire as a simultaneous two-division champion, surprised the MMA world with her decision. Despite her dominant victory over Irene Aldana, Nunes chose to retire as the reigning UFC women’s bantamweight and women’s featherweight champion. This means that new champions need to be crowned, at least in one of the divisions.
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Division
In the women’s bantamweight division, the UFC has an opportunity to showcase top-ranked fighters Julianna Pena and Raquel Pennington. Pena was originally scheduled to fight Nunes but got sidelined due to an injury. Pennington served as the official backup for UFC 289. A matchup between Pena and Pennington for the UFC women’s bantamweight championship seems likely, despite not being the most exciting fight. Pena’s victory would be a favorable outcome for the UFC, as she has shown the ability to promote herself and generate fan interest.
UFC Women’s Featherweight Division Future
UFC President Dana White hinted at the possibility of retiring the women’s featherweight division along with Nunes. This division has struggled with a lack of fighters, and the title hasn’t been defended since 2021. The absence of UFC women’s featherweight rankings and the unpopulated blank island on the rankings page reflect the division’s current state. It may be time to bid farewell to the women’s featherweight division.
UFC Lightweight Division
The landscape of the lightweight division underwent a significant shift at UFC 289. Former champion Charles Oliveira, who had a lackluster performance against Islam Makhachev at UFC 280, redeemed himself with a remarkable win over Beneil Dariush. Oliveira’s victory sets up a highly anticipated rematch with Makhachev for the UFC lightweight championship. While Dariush posed challenges for Oliveira, his success on the ground could be a concern in a potential Makhachev sequel. Nonetheless, Oliveira enjoys strong support from UFC fans, and his popularity was evident as the Canadian crowd embraced him. If Makhachev vs. Oliveira 2 doesn’t materialize, Oliveira could face the loser of Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje 2.
Beneil Dariush’s Path: Beneil Dariush experienced a devastating loss but had an impressive eight-fight winning streak that brought him close to a title shot. Now, he needs to regroup and reassess his strategy. A potential matchup for Dariush could be against Arman Tsarukyan, should Tsarukyan emerge victorious against Joaquim Silva. Other notable matchups for Dariush include Rafael Fiziev and the loser of Poirier-Gaethje 2, but those fights would test his chin.
Retirement of Amanda Nunes Conclusion
The retirement of Amanda Nunes has left a void in the women’s bantamweight and women’s featherweight divisions. While the future of the women’s featherweight division seems uncertain, the UFC has the opportunity to crown a new women’s bantamweight champion with a potential matchup between Julianna Pena and Raquel Pennington. Additionally, the lightweight division is poised for an exciting rematch between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev. As the dust settles from UFC 289, fans eagerly await the announcement of these highly anticipated matchups that will shape the future of the UFC.