If it's up to champ Amanda Nunes, Pena will wait even longer: 'I'll beat Rousey and give her a rematch'

When the UFC announced that Ronda Rousey would return from an yearlong layoff straight into a title shot, not everyone was enthused.

But one person who was certainly all for it was champion Amanda Nunes (13-4 MMA, 6-1 UFC), who’d made it clear since winning the UFC’s women’s bantamweight belt over Miesha Tate that Rousey (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) would be her immediate target.

For Nunes, in fact, Rousey’s role in the sport was so great that she’s earned herself not one, but two stabs at her belt.

“The UFC did well,” Nunes told MMAjunkie. “Ronda Rousey has every right to fight for the belt. She was dominant for a long time in this division and also, Ronda was one of the biggest pay-per-views ever sold.

“There’s no way to even explain it – of course she has the right to fight for the belt. She only lost once, and took some time off to rest. If you look at it on the internet, everyone is waiting for Ronda Rousey to return. Today, the UFC has women’s MMA because Rousey managed to change (UFC President) Dana White’s mind and put it in the UFC.

“I think she has the right to fight for the belt – not only once, but twice. I’ll beat her and give her a rematch right after that if she wants.”

Nunes and Rousey are set to headline UFC 207, which takes place Dec. 30 (a Friday) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

While the champ clearly respects Rousey’s legacy, the tone is a little bit different when it comes to the challenger’s game. Nunes, who’d already said she is “200 percent confident” she’ll win UFC 207’s headliner, doesn’t seem all that intimidated by Rousey’s dominant run before losing the 135-pound belt to Holly Holm.

In spite of the former champion only having gone past the second round twice in her career, Nunes believes that was enough to show that’s exactly where the holes in her games lie. And, as far as the current titleholder can see, they are numerous.

“Ronda has all the holes,” Nunes said. “In her striking, in her ground game, and even her timing. The longer the fight goes, she loses her timing – and that’s where I grow. Every time she loses a position that she gets countered, through time her level drops. So all of this – I’m going to take advantage of that. I’m going to take advantage of all of her mistakes and try to finish the fight as soon as possible.”

As confident as she is in herself, the betting lines disagree – with opening odds pointing to Ronda as a 3-1 favorite. Being the underdog, however, doesn’t really faze the current champ. She is not only certain of her win, but also that it will change her life.

And maybe even help out some believers along the way.

“I’m fine (with the odds), the important thing is that the fight is happening,” Nunes said. “I’m very happy. This fight is a gift – it will change my life. She can be the favorite, there’s no problem. Our encounter is going to be on Dec. 30, and then it will be something else – it will be just me and her in there. I’m certainly going to win and, faith in God, leave that night as a champion.

“But that’s part of it, right? Hopefully I’ll make a lot of people a lot of money. I know some people will bet on me, and I hope to give a lot of people a lot of money in that bet.”

As for the “changing her life” part – Nunes is fully aware of just how much attention the Rousey name can bring into a scrap. And that’s why, of course, she was so invested on it to begin with.

After becoming the UFC’s first Brazilian female champ, Nunes is determined to keep making octagon history. And, the way she sees it, Rousey is exactly the way to do it.

“Ronda Rousey is one of most visible athletes in the UFC,” Nunes said. “So, they would obviously put her in a main event, because it’s Ronda Rousey. In order for me to keep making history, it would have to be something like this. It would have to be Ronda Rousey.

“UFC 200 is where I started my story. And, in order for me to keep showing that I’m a great champion and that that’s why I’m here, I’m in this division to be a champion for many years, I would have to beat someone like her, in a big event, someone that everyone likes. Beating Ronda Rousey will change my life in all aspects.”

Say she does beat Ronda Rousey. What else can Nunes do to keep on adding to her legacy? Well, as she’s stated before, she’s willing to give Rousey another shot. But, if the former champ declines it,  she will just have to keep consistently beating some of the other contenders.

“After this fight, for sure, I am going to give Ronda a rematch,” Nunes said. “If Ronda Rousey wants the rematch, I’ll give it to her. If not, there are many other girls. The most important thing is to keep finishing – and winning and winning. That’s what’s going to show that I’m a real champion and that I’m in this division to stay.

“There are many girls climbing up the rankings. There’s Julianna Pena, who needs to stop talking and fight – because people want to see big fights. That’s why they scheduled this fight with me and Ronda, because it’s a great fight. Julianna needs to make her name, to lift up her name in order for people to start asking for that fight. There’s (Valentina) Shevchenko, whom I’ve beat, coming off a win over Holly Holm, who’s also been evolving in the division.”

That she is going to retain her belt against Rousey, Nunes is dead certain. As for how, we’ll just have to wait and see.

“I know I’ll win,” Nunes said. “But – one thing I can say is I’ll be ready for everything, at every moment of the fight. And at any moment she might go down.”

For more on UFC 207, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.