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Amanda Nunes becomes first openly gay UFC champion

Amanda Nunes becomes first openly gay UFC champion

After defeating Miesha Tate Saturday at UFC 200 in a stunning underdog victory, Amanda Nunes became the first openly gay UFC fighter to win a title, The Guardian reports. She showed up to her weigh-in wearing a shirt saying “We are all fighters,” as part of a fundraiser for the LGBTQ Center for Southern Nevada.

“Everybody knows that I respect Miesha a lot, [but] I’m the new champion,” Nunes told the Associated Press. “For years I’ve been working hard for this moment. I feel amazing.”

Nunes is the fourth fighter to hold the 135-pound belt since Ronda Rousey — who made headlines for refusing to fight transgender competitor Fallon Fox — lost it eight months ago. Depending when Rousey re-enters the ring, she could be Nunes next competitor.

The bantamweight fighter said she trains with her girlfriend, UFC strawweight fighter Nina Ansaroff, who she fully expects to be the next out competitor to grab a title.

“She is going to be the next UFC champion, I mean it,” Nunes told The Guardian. “She is going to show everybody. She helps me every day … and I love her.”

 

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