Amanda Nunes made short work of Cris Cyborg at UFC 232, KO’ing the feared Brazilian knockout artist to capture the featherweight title and become the first female two-division champ in UFC history.
Nunes made Cyborg look like an amateur on that night, but retired UFC veteran Josh Thomson believes people shouldn’t be so quick to write the former champ off.
Speaking as an analyst for Bellator MMA, Thomson hailed Cyborg as the greatest female fighter of all time and believes the multi-promotion champ would dismantle Nunes in a rematch.
“I don’t understand how people can say after one loss that you are not the GOAT of women’s MMA,” he said (via @BellatorMMANews). “Cris Cyborg is hands down the best women’s MMA fighter I’ve ever seen.
“If they fought again, I think Cris just dismantles Amanda.”
There’s no doubt Cyborg — real name Cristiane Justino — is one of the all-time greats. The MMA veteran has won world titles in multiple promotions, including the UFC, and is considered by many to be the best knockout artist in women’s MMA. Cyborg left the UFC to sign with Bellator in 2019, where the Chute Boxe Academy product currently reigns as featherweight queen. Justino TKO’d Julia Budd in her Bellator debut to capture the promotion’s FW belt but, despite her accomplishments, Nunes is still considered by many to be the female GOAT.
‘The Lioness’ is currently ranked #1 in the UFC women’s pound-for-pound rankings and is the only fighter that holds wins over Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey.