Amanda Nunes Announces Retirement After Defending Bantamweight Title at UFC 301

Amanda Nunes sent shockwaves through the MMA world on Saturday night, announcing her immediate retirement after successfully defending her bantamweight championship with a second-round submission victory over Kayla Harrison at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The 35-year-old Brazilian legend submitted the former Olympic judo champion with a rear naked choke at 3:47 of the second round, then dropped to her knees in the center of the octagon before delivering an emotional retirement speech to her home crowd of 18,000 at Arena Carioca 1.

"This is it for me," Nunes said through tears during her post-fight interview. "I have given everything to this sport, and I want to go out on top. My family is my priority now, and I'm ready to start the next chapter of my life. Thank you to everyone who supported me throughout this incredible journey."

Nunes retires as arguably the greatest female fighter in MMA history, having held championships in both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions simultaneously. Her victory over Harrison was her 13th consecutive win and extended her combined title reign to over seven years, during which she defeated every top contender in both weight classes.

The fight itself was a masterclass from the champion, who used her superior striking to hurt Harrison on the feet before taking the fight to the ground where her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt proved decisive. Harrison, making her UFC debut after a successful PFL career, showed heart but couldn't match Nunes' experience and finishing ability.

UFC President Dana White immediately paid tribute to Nunes during the post-fight press conference, calling her "one of the greatest athletes we've ever seen in any combat sport." Her retirement leaves a massive void in the bantamweight division and marks the end of an era that saw women's MMA reach unprecedented heights of popularity and skill. With Nunes stepping away, the bantamweight title will likely be contested between Harrison and top contenders like Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva.