'Disgusting': Amanda Nunes conqueror lashed over 'classless' mum remark
The UFC's new women's bantamweight champion Julianna Peña has faced the wrath of fight fans after an extraordinary swipe at Amanda Nunes, following her shock title triumph at UFC 269.
Peña stopped Nunes by submission with a rear naked choke in the second round of the Las Vegas title fight, claiming the bantamweight title from the long-reigning two-division champion in a 10-to-1 upset.
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The contest was billed as the battle of the two mothers, with Peña giving birth to her daughter Issa Cruz in January 2018 after taking a break from the fight game following her 2017 loss to Valentina Shevchencko.
Nunes is a mother to daughter Reagan Ann who was delivered by her partner and former MMA star Nina Ansaroff.
Following the stunning upset win over Nunes, a reporter asked Peña if she thought the UFC should create a new belt for being the ‘Baddest Mom on the Planet’.
The American's response - in which she appeared to claim superiority over Nunes for delivering her child - raised more than a few eyebrows.
“I’m not trying to take anything away from Amanda. She’s a wonderful mother, but I gave birth to my daughter and I feel like for giving birth, I am the first mum champ, and that is also a feather in the cap.”
I asked Julianna Peña if @ufc should create a Baddest Mom On The Planet belt for her.
“I’m not trying to take anything away from Amanda Nunes, she’s a wonderful mother, but I gave birth to my daughter. I feel like for giving birth I am the first mom champ.” #UFC269 @LVSportsBiz pic.twitter.com/L5FaeOtDG3— The Sportsnista (@TheSportsnista) December 12, 2021
New York Post's MMA reporter Scott Fontana described the comments as "disgusting", with fight fans taking to social media in droves to share their outrage.
“What a disgusting thought to put out into the world. My aunt is the mum of two adopted children. M. U. M. Amanda Nunes is a mum and was champ. She was the first “mum champ” in UFC history. Julianna Peña is the second. Both mums. Period,” he wrote.
“It is a remarkable and worthy achievement to be able to say Julianna Peña is the first woman to have given birth and subsequently won a UFC championship. It’s also demeaning to discount some mums just because they didn’t/couldn’t give birth. There’s a better way to say this.”
Julianna Pena says she should be considered the first "mom" champ and not Amanda Nunes because, "All respect to her, but I gave birth to my daughter." Says there should be a "baddest mom on the planet belt" made. #UFC269
— Adam Hill (@AdamHillLVRJ) December 12, 2021
Amanda Nunes was right about Pena being delusional. As if there is only one way to be a mom. What a terrible thing to say. https://t.co/Eqjl0POCL2
— Nic Devo (@NicoleDevo) December 12, 2021
Lost total respect for Pena with that ridiculous comment! Stupidity at its finest or maybe the head blows she took before her win clouded her judgement I’ll hope. Just giving birth does not make you a real mom. Get out of here with that. Nunes in defeat still humble and classy.
— Erika (@Airwrecka003) December 12, 2021
Interesting point Juliana Pena brought up about her being the rightful first “mom champ” over Amanda Nunes because she physically went through parturition.
What a rabbit hole that is lol.— Donovan Duncan (@Donnie_MD333) December 12, 2021
She has a child. She is a mom. She deals with the long nights when she is home. She deals with the cries, the tantrums, the wounds, Nunez is the first mom champ. Peña is the secondDo not come at nunes just because she did not push her out She still is a mother @VenezuelanVixen
— XIX 🇬🇹 (@luisestr_) December 12, 2021
Gained a whole lot of respect for Peña tonight, then lost it all after seeing what she said about Nuñes being a mom. Not at all okay #UFC269
— Jason Herzog Stan (@unexpectedUFC) December 12, 2021
So, according to Pena, adoptive moms and step moms or women who have kids via surrogates aren't "real mom's" now? She needs to come off that cloud real quick. She beat Nunes. Unexpected, but fine, cool, a Win's a win. However, this is just classless and tasteless.
— Jean Gentry (@JeanGen09181213) December 12, 2021
Julianna Peña reflects on 'crazy' UFC title triumph
Despite the post-fight controversy, the moment belonged to Peña (11-4), who was a massive underdog against a vaunted opponent widely considered the greatest fighter in the history of women's mixed martial arts.
Nunes had won 12 consecutive fights since 2014 and reigned simultaneously atop the 135-pound bantamweight and 145-pound featherweight divisions for three years.
“Amanda has been such a great champion, and she’s done a ton for the sport,” Peña said. “For me to be able to take out arguably the greatest of all time is something that’s still sinking in right now.”
After Nunes largely dominated the first round with two knockdowns and superior striking, Peña shockingly hurt Nunes with punches in a slugfest start to the second round. Peña then got Nunes to the ground, got her back and forced the champion to tap out with a choke around her neck with 1:38 left.
“It feels crazy,” Peña said. “I definitely expected to win, but the world is my oyster.”
Peña had won just two of her four fights over the past 5 1/2 years, and the Spokane native who trains in Chicago got the title shot as one of the few legitimate 135-pound fighters that Nunes hadn’t already beaten. Peña didn't fight for 30 months from 2017 to 2019 while giving birth to her daughter, but she won two of her three ensuing bouts to get this shot.
“Julianna is a person who always believed in herself and believed that she could win this fight if she got it,” UFC President Dana White said. “You heard her for months leading up to this fight, and she did it. It’s one of the things that makes this sport so incredible. An upset like this, where you can't believe it, it happens all the time here.”
Nunes was fighting for only the third time in two years after making two featherweight defenses since her most recent defense of her bantamweight belt in December 2019. Few opponents had even given her a stiff challenge since her second victory over current flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko by split decision in 2017.
Nunes is almost certain to be granted a rematch with Peña, who is eager to oblige: “We can do it next week. I'm free next week. I'm free next month," the champion said.
with agencies
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