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The top MMA betting picks for UFC Vegas 90 are laid out this week by Cole Shelton, who picks a favorite, an underdog, a prop and a parlay for bettors to consider Saturday night.
UFC 297 takes place Saturday, and Jon Litterine is back to break down the top fights, plus offer his DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
Noche UFC takes place Saturday, and Jon Litterine is back to break down the top fights, plus offer his DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
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Challenging Nunes again
UFC president Dana White confirmed Friday that Pena will challenge Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight title at UFC 289 on June 10, Aaron Bronsteter of TSN.ca reports.
ANALYSIS
Pena originally took the title from Nunes with a shocking win in December of 2021, but Nunes reclaimed the belt last summer with ease in a unanimous decision. It will be the third consecutive matchup for both fighters, with Nunes likely being favored to retain the title.
Pena originally took the title from Nunes with a shocking win in December of 2021, but Nunes reclaimed the belt last summer with ease in a unanimous decision. It will be the third consecutive matchup for both fighters, with Nunes likely being favored to retain the title.
Title reign ends quickly
Pena lost her UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship on Saturday, falling to Amanda Nunes via unanimous decision (45-50, 44-50, 43-50) at UFC 277 in Dallas.
ANALYSIS
Most people would have guessed this would have been the result in the rematch the second Pena stunned Nunes for the title last December. Overall, Julianna was hopelessly outclassed in virtually every aspect of the fight, yet her insane toughness and durability allowed her to nearly pull off a couple miracle submissions in Round 4 in a bout she otherwise had zero chance of winning. Nunes constantly switched stances early on and Pena had no answer. She was knocked down three times in Round 2 alone but kept coming. She was taken down countless times late in the fight when she exhausted, but kept battling. It's extremely rare, even in this sport, to see a display of heart and toughness like Pena showed here. Casual observers will remark that Julianna's victory in the first fight was nothing more than a fluke, and maybe the end result was, but she's a world-class fighter who may have very well earned more respect from fans and peers from this performance than her victory.
Most people would have guessed this would have been the result in the rematch the second Pena stunned Nunes for the title last December. Overall, Julianna was hopelessly outclassed in virtually every aspect of the fight, yet her insane toughness and durability allowed her to nearly pull off a couple miracle submissions in Round 4 in a bout she otherwise had zero chance of winning. Nunes constantly switched stances early on and Pena had no answer. She was knocked down three times in Round 2 alone but kept coming. She was taken down countless times late in the fight when she exhausted, but kept battling. It's extremely rare, even in this sport, to see a display of heart and toughness like Pena showed here. Casual observers will remark that Julianna's victory in the first fight was nothing more than a fluke, and maybe the end result was, but she's a world-class fighter who may have very well earned more respect from fans and peers from this performance than her victory.
Rematch with Nunes set for UFC 277
Pena (11-4-0) is scheduled to face Amanda Nunes (21-5-0) in a bantamweight title fight that will serve as the headliner for UFC 277 on July 30 in Dallas, Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The two agreed to a rematch more than seven months after Pena pulled off a stunning upset of Nunes at UFC 269 on Dec. 11 to claim the welterweight belt. After the fight, Nunes acknowledged she was tending to multiple knee injuries leading up to the matchup, but the seven-month hiatus from competition should have her back to optimal health as she aims to recapture the belt from Pena. The UFC 277 event will feature two title fights, as Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France will also battle for the interim flyweight bout in the co-main event.
The two agreed to a rematch more than seven months after Pena pulled off a stunning upset of Nunes at UFC 269 on Dec. 11 to claim the welterweight belt. After the fight, Nunes acknowledged she was tending to multiple knee injuries leading up to the matchup, but the seven-month hiatus from competition should have her back to optimal health as she aims to recapture the belt from Pena. The UFC 277 event will feature two title fights, as Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France will also battle for the interim flyweight bout in the co-main event.
New champ stuns world at UFC 269
Pena shocked the world Saturday, defeating Amanda Nunes via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:22 of Round 2 to win the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship at UFC 269 in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It's one of the greatest upsets in the history of the sport. Pena -- who entered as no less than a +600 underdog (Nunes was at least a -1000 favorite) called her shot and delivered. She said she was going to drag the champion into a fire fight and did just that. The result was all the more remarkable considering Pena was dominated in Round 1. Yet, when the clock finally flipped to Round 2, Pena unloaded with volume, and Nunes didn't handle the pressure well. Amanda appeared to quickly gas out, and Pena, who has never been known as much of a striker, recognized her opening and floored the gas pedal. Julianna was eventually able to get Nunes to the mat and choke her out, although the stoppage was more the result of Amanda being exhausted than anything else. Nunes is obviously going to get an immediate rematch, and it's far more likely than not that Pena won't be able to beat the former pound-for-pound queen a second-straight time, but that's honestly irrelevant at this point. This victory seemingly gives new life and a breath of fresh air to a division that has needed it for quite some time. Furthermore, Pena will take home an extra $50,000 for her efforts here after being awarded one of six Performance of the Night bonuses.
It's one of the greatest upsets in the history of the sport. Pena -- who entered as no less than a +600 underdog (Nunes was at least a -1000 favorite) called her shot and delivered. She said she was going to drag the champion into a fire fight and did just that. The result was all the more remarkable considering Pena was dominated in Round 1. Yet, when the clock finally flipped to Round 2, Pena unloaded with volume, and Nunes didn't handle the pressure well. Amanda appeared to quickly gas out, and Pena, who has never been known as much of a striker, recognized her opening and floored the gas pedal. Julianna was eventually able to get Nunes to the mat and choke her out, although the stoppage was more the result of Amanda being exhausted than anything else. Nunes is obviously going to get an immediate rematch, and it's far more likely than not that Pena won't be able to beat the former pound-for-pound queen a second-straight time, but that's honestly irrelevant at this point. This victory seemingly gives new life and a breath of fresh air to a division that has needed it for quite some time. Furthermore, Pena will take home an extra $50,000 for her efforts here after being awarded one of six Performance of the Night bonuses.
Nunes bout rebooked
Pena will go for the bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 on Dec. 11, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Pena was supposed to originally go for the belt in early August at UFC 265, but Nunes had to withdraw due to a positive COVID-19 test. Pena earned her chance to go for the bantamweight title after a third-round submission of Sara McMann at UFC 257 in January. Nunes will be going for an incredible 13th straight victory.
Pena was supposed to originally go for the belt in early August at UFC 265, but Nunes had to withdraw due to a positive COVID-19 test. Pena earned her chance to go for the bantamweight title after a third-round submission of Sara McMann at UFC 257 in January. Nunes will be going for an incredible 13th straight victory.