Amanda Nunes

Amanda Nunes – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Discover the life of Amanda Nunes — Brazilian MMA legend, born May 30, 1988 — from her humble beginnings to becoming a two-division UFC champion. Read her biography, legendary achievements, inspiring quotes, and the lessons from her path.

Introduction

Amanda Lourenço Nunes, known as “The Lioness”, is one of the most celebrated fighters in the history of mixed martial arts. Born in Brazil on May 30, 1988, she became the first woman in UFC history to win titles in two weight classes (bantamweight and featherweight), and to hold and defend them simultaneously.

Her ferocity in the Octagon, combined with tactical skill and resilience, has earned her the reputation of being one of the greatest female MMA fighters ever.

In this article, we explore her early life, rise in MMA, defining moments, philosophies, legacy, and some of her notable words.

Early Life and Family

Amanda Nunes was born on May 30, 1988 in Pojuca, a small town in the state of Bahia, Brazil. She grew up with two older sisters.

Her parents separated when she was young; she and her siblings were raised by their mother. Her mother worked hard—selling snacks, beauty products, and doing administrative work—to support the family.

From a young age, Amanda had abundant energy and was encouraged to use sports as an outlet. She initially had aspirations in soccer, joining local teams in Pojuca and Salvador, and even tried out for Vitória’s youth squad, though she was unable to continue because of family priorities.

At four, she began training in karate; as a teenager, she added boxing, and later Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and judo to her training.

She relocated to Salvador to train at an academy run by Edson Carvalho (and under the guidance of Ricardo Carvalho). Because she was among the few women there, she earned the nickname “Leoa” (Lioness) from her coaches.

Her growth in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was marked with success: she won Pan American and World level medals at various belt levels, and eventually earned a black belt.

Rise in MMA & Career Milestones

Early Career

Amanda Nunes made her professional MMA debut in March 2008 in a small Brazilian promotion, facing Ana Maria and losing by submission.

Over the next years, she accumulated wins via knockout and submission, building a reputation as a powerful striker.

In 2011 she fought in Strikeforce Challengers, defeating Julia Budd by knockout in just 14 seconds. She also had fights in Invicta FC, where she secured victories.

Joining the UFC & Climbing Ranks

In August 2013, Nunes made her UFC debut against Sheila Gaff, winning via TKO in the first round. She followed up with a win over Germaine de Randamie.

Her rise in the bantamweight division accelerated. In July 2016 at UFC 200, she defeated Miesha Tate via rear-naked choke to capture the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship—making history as the first openly lesbian UFC champion.

Later she defended that belt against famed opponents: Ronda Rousey (by TKO in 48 seconds), Valentina Shevchenko, Raquel Pennington, Holly Holm (by knockout), Germaine de Randamie, and Felicia Spencer.

In December 2018, she moved up to featherweight to challenge Cris Cyborg—and knocked her out in just 51 seconds, thereby winning the UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship. She thus held two divisional titles simultaneously, a feat no female UFC fighter had done before.

She defended both titles across multiple fights. In 2021 at UFC 269, she suffered a surprise loss of her bantamweight title to Julianna Peña via submission.

In 2022, Nunes rematched Peña and regained the bantamweight title via dominant decision.

Her final fight came at UFC 289 in June 2023, where she defended her bantamweight title against Irene Aldana by unanimous decision, then announced her retirement.

At the time of retirement, Nunes was one of the most decorated female fighters in UFC history:

• First woman to win UFC titles in two divisions and defend both simultaneously

• Most wins in UFC women’s title fights

• The only fighter to defend titles in two divisions while simultaneously holding both

In 2025, she was officially announced for induction into the UFC Hall of Fame’s “modern wing.”

Later in 2025, she also declared her intention to come out of retirement, expressing her desire to reclaim the belt and return to competition.

Historical & Cultural Significance

Amanda Nunes redefined what was possible for female fighters:

• Trailblazing double champion: She broke barriers by being the first woman in UFC to win and defend titles in two weight classes simultaneously.

• Dominance across styles: Her skills spanned striking, grappling, and fight IQ, making her a full-spectrum threat rather than a specialist.

• Representation and visibility: As an openly lesbian fighter and champion, she increased LGBTQ visibility in combat sports.

• Resilience in defeat: Her comeback after losing her title showed mental toughness and refusal to give in to narratives of decline.

• Legacy in women’s MMA: She remains a benchmark and role model for younger fighters, showing that dominance, longevity, and versatility are achievable.

Personality, Style & Traits

Amanda Nunes is often described as fearless, confident, and unapologetically bold. She has spoken candidly about respect—for opponents, for the sport, and for the process.

Her fighting style:

• Powerful striking and knockout ability, especially in the stand-up game

• Solid grappling and submission skills, allowing her to finish fights both standing and on the ground

• Adaptability: she could manage distance, pressure, counterattacks, and transitions fluidly — not rigid in any one mode

Off the mat, she values family, loyalty, and collaboration. Her partnership with her wife (former UFC fighter Nina Ansaroff) is often portrayed as mutual support in both life and training.

Her absolute self-confidence sometimes draws scrutiny or rivalry, but it also fuels her readiness to take big challenges.

Notable Quotes

Here are several quotes attributed to Amanda Nunes that reflect her mindset, lessons, and character:

“I respect my opponents, I learned that from life.”

“I became the first Brazilian woman to win a UFC title. That is huge.”

“You need to prepare for every fight.”

“I’ve been through several situations in my career and nothing bothers me.”

“When people find out how strong and powerful love is, then this world will be a better place.”

“I started my career with a loss … We never accept to lose, but we learn that it’s not the end of the world.”

These quotes illustrate her resilience, humility, and belief in growth through adversity.

Lessons from Amanda Nunes’ Journey

1. Embrace multifaceted development
   She did not rely solely on one skill set. She worked striking, grappling, and fight IQ to become complete.

2. Let loss teach, not define
   Her early losses did not derail her; they became stepping stones to improvement.

3. Be bold in ambition
   She challenged dominant champions, moved between weight classes, and seized big opportunities rather than playing safe.

4. Stand firm in your identity
   She operated with authenticity in her personal life, even in a sport that is often hypermasculine and conservative.

5. Resilience is essential
   A career of that level comes with setbacks; her return after defeat and willingness to retire (and reenter) demonstrate balance between drive and acceptance.

6. Leave a standard, not just a legacy
   Her dominance sets a benchmark. Future fighters will be measured against her record—not just what she accomplished, but how she did it.

Conclusion

Amanda Nunes’ story is not just about number of wins or titles, but about how one becomes and remains a legend in a demanding, evolutionary sport. From her humble beginnings in small-town Brazil to the pinnacle of UFC greatness, she pushed boundaries, shattered records, and represented strength, authenticity, and audacity.

Her legacy will endure not just in the record books, but in the mindset she inspires: train fully, fight bravely, recover deliberately, and live boldly.