Amanda Nunes knows UFC is punishing her with co-main demotion, isn't worried about it

It wasn’t long ago that Amanda Nunes was on top of the world. Yet, at this point, it kind of feels like a distant memory.

In her last fight eight months ago at UFC 207, Nunes claimed the biggest win of her career when she defended her women’s bantamweight title with a 48-second demolishing of ex-champion Ronda Rousey. Prior to that victory, of course, was Nunes’ dominant performance against Miesha Tate to claim the title with a first-round submission.

Those back-to-back wins, over perhaps the two biggest names in women’s MMA history, announced Nunes’ arrival as the next big female star in the UFC.

Now, fast forward to the present, with Nunes preparing for her second title defense against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 215, which takes place Sept. 9 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Has the shine worn off?

“Honestly, I don’t really worry about what people think,” Nunes said Thursday on a conference call with reporters. “I’m a fighter. I’ve trained my whole life for this. I’m a fighter, and I will keep training. Whatever happens, I will keep doing the same thing that I do right now – training, fight. Whatever people’s opinions are about me (doesn’t matter).”

Nunes came under fire in July because of her last-minute withdrawal from the UFC 213 main event. After the Friday weigh-ins for the fight with Shevchenko, Nunes was hospitalized and decided to withdraw from the event only hours before she set to compete. Nunes would reveal in the aftermath that sinusitis was to blame, but by that point the damage had been done after UFC President Dana White revealed Nunes opted out despite clearance from doctors, angering many fans.

White was outspokenly upset about Nunes’ decision, which, in Nunes’ mind. explains why the fight – previously scheduled as the main event for the promotion’s big International Fight Week – has been demoted to co-main event.

“I feel they’re punishing me for sure,” Nunes said.

Even so, Nunes continues to defend her decision not to fight while less than 100 percent. And she has no intention of putting pressure on herself to perform any differently in her rematch with Shevchenko just to prove a point.

“Whatever Dana White says he’s going to do, you know,” Nunes said. “It could’ve been the main event or the first of the card, I would still fight the same. I’m going to step in the cage, defend my belt – co-main event, I don’t have any problem with that. I’m going to keep my belt, walk away, go home, drink some beer, and enjoy time with my girlfriend, my friends and my family.”

For more on UFC 215, visit the UFC Rumors section of the site.