Until recently, Amanda Nunes has not been known for her reverence towards Ronda Rousey.
Although Nunes was quiet in the run up to her potentially career-ending destruction of Rousey, ‘The Lioness’ was vocal in her disdain for the ex-champion. Nunes tore asunder everything ‘Rowdy’ was about, from her talent and dedication to the abilities of her coaching team.
Surprisingly, Nunes uploaded a heartfelt apology to Instagram which was essentially a public apology to the former Queen of the octagon. The apology itself was clear enough, but recently Nunes spoke with the Las Vegas Review-Journal to expand on why she felt the need to reach out to Rousey following news that she may “be done”.
“The apology was because the words that I said. I think it was a little bit too much because I was very upset, very mad because how I was promoted [for] the whole thing. I was the champion and I didn’t have the credit I was supposed to have. I feel like everything was about her,” said nunes.
Nunes’ absolute dominance over the returning Rousey further solidified her as the dominant champion of the division; the ruler of the female 135-pound division explains why a perceived lack of respect was a motivating factor in her anger towards Rousey, and how she demands to be given the utmost respect as champion:
“I never fight mad before. That was the only fight that they made me fight mad, upset, and hurt. They hurt me and after the [sic] fight I can’t control myself. I say bad words and I know I have a lot of kids that night, a lot of people that didn’t want to hear that bad speech. But I was so upset and so hurt, I can’t hold myself [back]. That’s why I decided to post that after a couple days, a couple weeks after the fight because I was better now. I can hear everything, all the things, and I’ve calm down more but I was very upset with the whole thing.”
“For sure. Ronda Rousey was huge. We know what Ronda Rousey did for this sport, especially for women’s MMA. I know everything. I respect her for that. But I was the champion. I’m supposed to have credit a well. That’s why we have the belt. That’s why the UFC has the belt. Who’s the best? You have the belt. I was the best. Now everybody is gonna respect and treat me better and I think I deserve it.”
