Nunes extended his professional record to 22 wins and five losses
Amanda Nunes outlasted Julianna Pena in an absorbing rematch to reclaim her bantamweight title at UFC 277 in Dallas, Texas.
The 34-year-old Brazilian excelled in both stand-up and grappling as she avenged her December loss to the American.
Victory over the 32-year-old means Nunes, who also holds the featherweight title, becomes the first double champion in UFC history.
“We’re making history again, this is the best day of my life,” Nunes said.
In the co-main event, Brandon Moreno claimed the interim flyweight title as he stopped Kai Kara-France in the third round with a crushing body kick.
After the bout, division champion Deiveson Figueiredo joined Moreno in the cage as the pair agreed to an unprecedented fourth undisputed title fight.
The new technical team pays off in Nunes
Nunes was joined by his wife Nina, who is also a fighter and part of his corner, after his win
Pena sensationally submitted Nunes in Las Vegas seven months ago, ending his 12-fight winning streak to win the title in one of the biggest shocks in UFC history.
The loss was Nunes’ first in seven years in a career that has seen “Leona” beat multiple current and former champions twice, including Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg and Valentina Shevchenko.
Pena was keen to point out that his win was no fluke in post-fight interviews, reminding critics that he had predicted his title reign from the moment the fight was announced.
The pair’s rivalry gained another layer after they were confirmed as the coaches of opposing teams on the UFC Ultimate Fighter reality TV series.
Nunes entered the rematch with a new coaching staff following his decision to set up his own gym after Pena’s defeat, citing a desire for a space of his own.
The changes he had made to his game were evident early on as he adopted a southpaw stance that he has rarely shown in previous fights.
After rocking Pena with right hands twice in the first round, Nunes asserted total control in the second as she knocked her down three times, becoming the first woman in UFC history to knock out an opponent three times in the same round.
In the third, the Brazilian showed her grappling prowess as she took Pena down and cut her down with several cutting elbows to the mat.
Pena’s team knew the champion was behind and urged her to push harder and look for a finish in the final rounds.
Despite several armbar and triangle attempts on the ground from Pena, Nunes safely navigated through the threats on her way to victory.
As the fight came to a conclusion, she danced on the ground confident that she would regain her title, as a bloodied Pena lay on the mat.
The win silences critics who suggested Nunes had lost her appetite after being the dominant woman in the sport for so long.
Nunes praised his new coaching staff in the post-fight interview.
“The best thing I did was make my dream come true [move gyms]” Nunes said.
“I feel that now I can grow even more, I have evolved even more.
“Now I have a chance to go back to Brazil and see my family that I miss so much. Please let me rest a little and I will be back as soon as possible.”
Moreno sets up a historic Figueiredo fight
Moreno became a two-time flyweight champion after defeating Kara-France
The co-main event saw Mexico’s Brandon Moreno take on New Zealand’s Kai Kara France for the interim flyweight title, with the injured reigning champion Deiveson Figueiredo staring at the cage.
In a closely contested match, it was a devastating body kick from the 28-year-old Moreno in the third round that proved the difference.
After trading punches and leg kicks in the first 10 minutes, Moreno drove his left leg into Kara-France’s liver, dropping the New Zealand fighter in pain.
When Moreno jumped up, landing a flurry of punches, referee Herb Dean stopped the fight, crowning Moreno the champion.
After the bout, Figueiredo joined Moreno in the cage as the pair agreed to a historic fourth undisputed title fight.
No two fighters have ever fought each other four times in the UFC.
The pair drew the first, with Moreno winning the second and Brazil’s Figueiredo avenging their loss in the third in January.
“I don’t hate you, I forgive you, but don’t get confused, I want to fight you for the belt in December,” Moreno said.
Figueiredo responded by asking for the fight to take place in Brazil.
Elsewhere, home favorite Derrick Lewis suffered a first-round knockout at the hands of Russia’s Sergei Pavlovich in their heavyweight bout, while Magomed Ankalaev defeated fellow lightweight Anthony Smith for his ninth win consecutive
In the other flyweight bout on the main card, Alexandre Pantoja scored an impressive first-round submission over Alex Perez.