Has Pena submitting Nunes at UFC 269 set up the ‘biggest women’s fight of all time’?
The Hindu
Experts are calling it the most shocking upset in the sport’s history. Fans are clamouring for a rematch between the former bantamweight champion, widely considered one of the greatest ever, and her conqueror. UFC president Dan White thinks it can eclipse Rousey-Holm
The first round of the women’s bantamweight title fight at UFC 269 went along expected lines. Champion Amanda Nunes, among the most accomplished fighters of all time, called the shots against heavy underdog Julianna Pena.
With powerful kicks and crisp jabs, Nunes had her opponent reeling. Pena’s corner feared a quick end to the fight, and were relieved when she made it out of the round.
The script featured a dramatic turnaround in the second round. Pena, unwilling to simply roll over, came out all guns blazing. She threw the kitchen sink at Nunes, landing a series of heavy punches.
Unlike most of the Olympic-bound athletes, who opt to train abroad before the big event, boxer Amit Panghal prefers training in home conditions prior to Paris 2024. A former World championships silver medallist and a World No. 1, Panghal won the 51kg quota place in the only chance he got. He wants to follow his own plans to script success in Paris.
The other men’s semifinal Friday is Norway’s Casper Ruud, twice the runner-up in Paris — to Rafael Nadal in 2022 and to Novak Djokovic in 2023 — against Germany’s Alexander Zverev, a finalist at the 2020 U.S. Open, an Olympic gold medalist and into the final four at Roland Garros for the fourth consecutive year.