Amanda Nunes is one of the most dominant fighters in MMA history, known as “The Lioness” for her ferocious style and record-breaking achievements in the UFC. She’s a retired two-division champion with a pro record of 23-5-0 as of early 2026, and recent talks hint at a potential comeback.
Amanda Nunes’ Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Amanda Lourenço Nunes |
| Nickname | The Lioness |
| Date of Birth | May 30, 1988 |
| Age | 37 years |
| Birthplace | Pozuelo de Calar, Bahia, Brazil |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Nationality | Brazilian-American |
| Height | 5’8″ (173 cm) |
| Weight Class | Bantamweight / Featherweight |
| Reach | 68.9″ (175 cm) |
| Team | Lioness Studio |
| Professional Debut | March 2008 |
| Current Ranking | #19 Women’s Bantamweight (Tapology) |
| MMA Record | 23-5-0 (13 KO/TKO, 4 SUB, 6 DEC) |
| Net Worth | $4 million |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Nina Nunes (née Ansaroff) |
| Children | 2 |
| Instagram Profile | @amanda_leoa |
Amanda Nunes fights out of Coral Springs, Florida, balancing family life with her training at her own Lioness Studio. She’s openly gay and has been with Nina since around 2016.
Early Career
Amanda Nunes started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at 17 after facing bullying in her small Brazilian town. She turned pro in March 2008 with a quick armbar win over Ana Maria. Early fights saw her rack up TKOs against foes like Nadja Nadja and Paty Barbosa, building hype in regional promotions like Prime MMA and Samurai FC. By 2011, she hit Strikeforce, knocking out Julia Budd in 14 seconds, which led to her UFC entry in 2013.
Professional Career
Nunes burst into the UFC with back-to-back TKOs over Sheila Gaff and Germaine de Randamie in 2013. She won the women’s bantamweight title from Miesha Tate at UFC 200 in 2016 via submission, then shocked Ronda Rousey with a 48-second KO at UFC 207. Nunes became champ-champ by knocking out Cris Cyborg in 51 seconds at UFC 232, defending titles against Holly Holm, Germaine de Randamie, and others.
Losses to Julianna Peña bookended her reign, but she reclaimed the belt twice before retiring after beating Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023. With 16-2 UFC record, she’s in the Hall of Fame (2025 inductee) and talks of unretiring for Kayla Harrison persist into 2026.
spouse
Amanda Nunes is married to fellow fighter Nina Nunes (formerly Nina Ansaroff), whom she started dating around 2016. They got engaged in 2018, wed in 2019, and have two kids together—one born in 2020 via IVF and another in 2023. The couple supports each other’s careers, with Nina also competing in UFC strawweight before retiring.
Amanda Nunes’ Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Amanda Nunes’ net worth sits at $4 million, built from UFC purses, PPV shares, and post-retirement ventures like her Lioness Studio gym. This figure comes from reliable estimates tracking her fight earnings over 18 years in MMA.
Fight Purses
Here’s a breakdown of her disclosed UFC fight purses, including base pay, bonuses, PPV estimates, and totals where available (figures from official reports and estimates).
| Event/Date | Opponent | Base Salary | Win Bonus | PPV Est. | Bonus/Sponsor | Total Est. |
| UFC 163 (2013) | Sheila Gaff | $10k | $10k | – | $6k | $26k |
| Fight for Troops 3 (2013) | Germaine de Randamie | $10k | $10k | – | $6k | $26k |
| UFC 178 (2014) | Cat Zingano | $15k | $0 | – | $6k | $21k |
| UFC FN (2015) | Shayna Baszler | $15k | $15k | – | $4k | $34k |
| UFC FN (2015) | Sara McMann | $20k | $20k | – | $54k | $94k |
| UFC 200 (2016) | Miesha Tate | $100k | $0 | – | $80k | $180k |
| UFC 207 (2016) | Ronda Rousey | $100k | $100k | $1.85M | $90k | $2.14M |
| UFC 289 (2023) | Irene Aldana | $1M | $0 | $300k | $42k | $1.34M |
Career Earnings
Nunes’ total UFC-reported earnings top $8.36 million from 18 fights, driven by massive PPV cuts from big events like Rousey and Cyborg bouts. Later title fights against Peña and Aldana pushed her into seven-figure paydays each.
| Fight Range | Total Earnings Est. | Key Contributors |
| Early UFC (2013-2015) | ~$200k | Base pay + small bonuses |
| Title Run (2016-2019) | ~$4.5M | Rousey ($2.14M), Cyborg ($1.28M), Holm ($690k) |
| Late Reign (2020-2023) | ~$6M+ | Peña rematch ($2M+), Aldana ($1.34M), PPV shares |
| Career UFC Total | $8.36M | 16 wins, PPV dominance |
Endorsements
Amanda Nunes pockets extra cash from brands like Reebok (past UFC kits with $40k fight week incentives), TEN spring water, and budding ventures tied to her Lioness Studio gym opened around 2022.
These deals, plus speaking gigs and merch, add six figures yearly post-retirement, boosting her profile beyond the cage. No major 2026 updates, but her 2M Instagram reach keeps opportunities flowing.
Championships & Achievements
| Achievement | Details |
| UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion | Two reigns (2016-2021, 2022); 6 defenses |
| UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion | One reign (2018-2021); 1 defense |
| UFC Hall of Fame | Modern Wing, Class of 2025 |
| Most UFC Title Wins (Women) | 11-1 record in title fights |
| UFC Record: Octagon Time | 3:24:24 |
| Longest Win Streak | 12 (2015-2021) |
Fight Record
Nunes faced legends across 28 pro bouts, shining in UFC with KOs over Rousey (48s), Cyborg (51s), and Holm. Her losses: two subs to Peña, early stoppage to Zingano. Full pro: 23-5-0.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Rounds | Event |
| 2023-06-10 | Irene Aldana | Win | UD | 5 | UFC 289 |
| 2022-07-30 | Julianna Peña | Win | UD | 5 | UFC 277 |
| 2021-12-11 | Julianna Peña | Loss | Sub (R2) | 2 | UFC 269 |
| 2021-03-06 | Megan Anderson | Win | Sub (R1) | 1 | UFC 259 |
| 2020-06-06 | Felicia Spencer | Win | UD | 5 | UFC 250 |
| 2019-12-14 | Germaine de Randamie | Win | UD | 5 | UFC 245 |
| 2019-07-06 | Holly Holm | Win | KO/TKO (R1) | 1 | UFC 239 |
| 2018-12-29 | Cris Cyborg | Win | KO/TKO (R1) | 1 | UFC 232 |
| 2016-12-30 | Ronda Rousey | Win | KO/TKO (R1) | 1 | UFC 207 |
| 2016-07-09 | Miesha Tate | Win | Sub (R1) | 1 | UFC 200 |
| 2014-09-27 | Cat Zingano | Loss | TKO (R3) | 3 | UFC 178 |
FAQs
1. Who is Amanda Nunes?
Amanda Nunes is a Brazilian mixed martial artist widely regarded as one of the greatest female fighters ever. She competed primarily in the UFC, achieving a professional record of 23-5 with 13 knockouts and four submissions. Nunes earned induction into the UFC Hall of Fame in the Modern Wing in June 2025.
2. What is Amanda Nunes’ MMA record?
Amanda Nunes holds a professional MMA record of 23 wins and 5 losses. In the UFC, she went 16-2, with 10 finishes including notable knockouts and submissions. Her longest win streak was 12 fights from 2015 to 2021.
3. Has Amanda Nunes won any UFC championships?
Nunes is the first woman to hold UFC titles in two divisions simultaneously, winning the Women’s Bantamweight Championship in 2016 and the Featherweight Championship in 2018. She made eight successful title defenses, tying for the most UFC women’s title wins with 11. Her combined title reign is the longest in UFC history at 3,940 days.
4. What are some famous fights of Amanda Nunes?
Nunes famously knocked out Ronda Rousey in 48 seconds at UFC 207 in 2016 and Cris Cyborg in 51 seconds at UFC 232 in 2018. She also defeated Holly Holm via head kick TKO at UFC 239 and submitted Miesha Tate to win her first title at UFC 200.
5. Why did Amanda Nunes retire from MMA?
Amanda Nunes retired in June 2023 after defending her Bantamweight title against Irene Aldana at UFC 289 via unanimous decision. She cited wanting to enjoy life with her family, including her wife and children, after a dominant career.
6. Is Amanda Nunes coming back to UFC?
Yes, Nunes announced her UFC comeback in June 2025, planning to fight the winner of Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison for the Bantamweight title at UFC 316. She stated she aims to reclaim and defend the belt as long as her body allows.
7. Who is Amanda Nunes married to?
Amanda Nunes is married to Nina Nunes (formerly Nina Ansaroff), a former UFC fighter. They met in 2012 at a Florida gym, got engaged in 2018, married in 2019, and have two daughters together.
8. What is Amanda Nunes’ fighting style?
Nunes excels in striking with powerful boxing combinations and knockout power, complemented by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt skills for submissions like rear-naked chokes. She has 14 first-round finishes and strong takedown defense.
9. What is Amanda Nunes’ net worth?
Amanda Nunes has an estimated net worth of around $4 million, earned from UFC purses, pay-per-views, and endorsements like Reebok and TEN spring water. Her biggest paydays included fights against Ronda Rousey and others.
10. What are Amanda Nunes’ key achievements?
Nunes holds records for most finishes in UFC women’s history (10), longest women’s win streak (12), and most title fight wins by a woman (11). She defeated legends like Rousey, Cyborg, Holm, and Shevchenko twice, solidifying her GOAT status.