Amanda Nunes calls out Ronda Rousey for first title defense
If Ronda Rousey wants a title shot when she returns, Amanda Nunes is waiting.
The newly crowned women's bantamweight champion declared on Friday that Rousey is the name at the top of the list when it comes to her first title defense.
Nunes became champion when she steamrolled Miesha Tate with a first-round rear naked choke at UFC 200 and now she's targeting Rousey as her next opponent as she looks to legitimize her title reign as the best women's fighter in the UFC bantamweight division.
"I've been training jiu-jitsu since I started. Jiu-jitsu and judo both together. I know how to block very well judo throws, I know how to use my hips very well. I know if Ronda Rousey is coming back, I'm going to keep the championship," Nunes said during a Q&A session ahead of UFC 201.
Nunes stated long before she became champion that she would welcome a fight against Rousey, but never got the chance to face her before earning a title shot against Tate instead.
Rousey has stated that when she returns to the Octagon that she wants to reclaim the title she lost when Holly Holm knocked her out at UFC 193 last November.
Unfortunately, Rousey hasn't made it clear when she wants to return to the sport but Nunes is willing to wait to put together the championship showdown.
If Rousey isn't available, Nunes sees a couple other contenders in the division, but facing the former champion in her first title defense is what she wants above all else.
"Ronda Rousey," Nunes said when asked point blank who she wants next. "But we have a couple of girls in line right now — Julianna Pena, Valentina Shevchenko, and if Ronda's not coming back, I'll take Julianna Pena. It's no problem."
