Amanda Nunes beaten by Julianna Pena in stunning UFC 269 upset
One of the most dominant runs in the history of the UFC is over.
Amanda Nunes came into her bantamweight title fight against challenger Julianna Pena as an almost unbackable favourite, having not lost a fight at any weight class in nearly eight years.
She had 12 consecutive wins, including dominant performances against Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg - but was submitted via a rear naked choke in the second round after sustaining repeated blows from her opponent throughout the fight.
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"She's exhausted and she's hurt," commentator Joe Rogan said as both he and Daniel Cormier screamed in disbelief as Pena's win unfolded in front of them.
The American secured the win via submission, exhausting Nunes, who many regard as the best female fighter ever, with a hyper-aggressive gameplan.
New UFC bantamweight champion Julianna Pena. Getty
The UFC's own social media accounts labelled it the biggest upset in the company's history, and it's hard to disagree.
"I still can't believe it happened," Rogan said afterwards.
The other title fight was equally full of fireworks, Charles Oliveira defending his lightweight title with a third-round submission of Dustin Poirier.
The fight was poised at one round apiece before Oliviera secured the win in his first title defence.
"I'm a world champion, I'm the man. They talk, I do," he said through a translator after the fight.
Charles Oliveira after his title defence at UFC 269. Getty
"They can hit me a lot Joe, but I'm gonna walk forward."
It's now a 10-win streak for the Brazilian, nine of which he kept out of the judges' hands.
Earlier, Australia's Tai Tuivasa knocked out Brazilian heavyweight Augusto Sakai in the second round of their three-round fight, while New Zealand's Kai Kara-France welcomed Cody Garbrandt to the flyweight divison by knocking him out in the first round.
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