UFC 269: Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena Picks and Predictions

Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena face off on Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 269 in a women’s bantamweight title bout at the T-Moble Arena in Las Vegas. 

Amanda “The Lioness” Nunes comes into this fight with a 21-4 record and she is one of the greatest fighters ever. Nunes has won 12 fights in a row and each of the last nine victories has been for the belt. Nunes last win came against Megan Anderson and it was midway through the first round she won by a triangle armbar. Nunes is averaging 4.50 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.45 significant strikes per minute. She is good at getting the fight to the ground averaging 2.50 takedowns every 15 minutes and she is successful on 53 percent of her takedown attempts. Nunes also stops 84 percent of her opponents takedown attempts. Nunes is one of the best of all time and it would be quite shocking if she lost this fight. 

Julianna Pena comes into this fight with an 11-4 record overall and she is also coming off a victory. Pena’s last fight came against Sara McCann and it was later in the third round he won by a rear-naked choke. Two fights ago Pena lost to Germaine de Randamie and she got herself in a bad position and lost by rear-naked choke. Pena is averaging 2.80 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 1.70 significant strikes per minute. Pena likes to get the fight to the ground also averaging 2.49 takedowns every 15 minutes and she is successful on 53 percent of her attempts. She is only stopping 23 percent of her opponents takedown attempts and that could be a major problem in this game.