Amanda Nunes, widely called the greatest female fighter in MMA history, is coming out of retirement in 2026 for one final showdown against reigning UFC bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison. Here’s everything publicly known about her life, career, and finances heading into that fight.
Amanda Nunes’ Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Amanda Lourenço Nunes |
| Nickname | The Lioness (“Leoa”) |
| Date of Birth | May 30, 1988 |
| Age | 38 years |
| Birthplace | Pojuca, Bahia, Brazil |
| Religion | N/A |
| Nationality | Brazilian-American |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Weight Class | N/A |
| Reach | 69 in (175 cm) |
| Gym / Team | Team Nunes (own gym, Florida); formerly American Top Team (2014–2022) |
| Professional Debut | March 8, 2008, Prime MMA Championship 2 |
| Current Ranking | Not formally ranked since her 2023 retirement; booked for the bantamweight title vs. Kayla Harrison at UFC 334 on Nov 14, 2026 |
| MMA Record | 23 wins, 5 losses (28 total) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $4–5 million |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Spouse | Nina Nunes |
| Children | Two daughters — Raegan Ann Nunes and Hazel Ann Nunes |
| @amanda_leoa |
Nunes retired as champion in June 2023 but announced a comeback in mid-2025. She was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Modern Wing in 2025, cementing her legacy even before she stepped back in the cage.
Early Career
Born in Pojuca, Brazil, Nunes started with capoeira and karate as a hyperactive kid, later training judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Ricardo Carvalho in Salvador.
She lived at the gym, sweeping floors before dawn classes, earning the nickname “Leoa” (lioness). She turned pro in 2008, losing her debut by armbar before racing to five straight knockout wins.
Professional Career
Nunes joined Strikeforce and Invicta FC before debuting in the UFC in 2013. She won the bantamweight title from Miesha Tate in 2016, then flattened Ronda Rousey in 48 seconds.
In 2018 she knocked out Cris Cyborg to become a two-division champion, a first for a woman.
After losing her title to Julianna Peña in 2021, she avenged it in 2022, retired undefeated as double champ in 2023, and is now returning at 38 to challenge Kayla Harrison.
Spouse
Nunes married fellow UFC fighter Nina Ansaroff (now Nina Nunes) in January 2019, after the couple got engaged in 2018. Nina competed in the strawweight division and remains part of Amanda’s corner team.
The couple has two daughters together: Raegan Ann, born September 24, 2020, and a second daughter born November 1, 2023. Nunes has openly credited her relationship with Nina for stabilizing her personal life and fueling her championship run.
Amanda Nunes’ Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Amanda Nunes’ net worth sits at $4-$5 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
| Event | Opponent | Result | Disclosed Purse |
| UFC 200 | Miesha Tate | Win | $180,000 |
| UFC 207 | Ronda Rousey | Win | $290,000 |
| UFC 250 | Felicia Spencer | Win | ~$450,000 |
| UFC 232 | Cris Cyborg | Win | $440,000 |
| UFC 269 | Julianna Peña | Loss | $442,000 |
| UFC 277 | Julianna Peña (rematch) | Win | $2,032,000 |
| UFC 289 | Irene Aldana | Win | $1,342,000 |
Career Earnings
| Category | Amount |
| Recorded Career Earnings | $8,597,000 |
| Estimated Total Career Earnings | ~$8,933,000 |
| Biggest Single Payday | $2,032,000 |
| Most Recent Recorded Purse | $1,342,000 |
Endorsements
Nunes has built a respectable endorsement portfolio around her fighter-mom, LGBTQ-trailblazer image. She’s had apparel deals through the UFC’s Venum kit sponsorship, was featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine’s Body Issue in 2019, and has picked up various fight-week sponsorships tied to her bouts over the years.
Achievements
| Achievement | Detail |
| UFC Hall of Fame | Modern Wing inductee, Class of 2025 |
| UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship | Won twice; six total title defenses |
| UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship | Won once; two title defenses |
| Two-Division Champion | Only woman in UFC history to hold two titles simultaneously |
| Performance of the Night | Won five times (Rousey, Tate, McMann, Cyborg, Holm) |
| Win Streak Record | 12 consecutive wins, most in UFC women’s history |
| Title Fight Wins | 11, tied for 4th-most in UFC history (any gender) |
Fight Record
| Opponent | Result | Event | Date |
| Ronda Rousey | Win (TKO, R1) | UFC 207 | Dec 30, 2016 |
| Cris Cyborg | Win (KO, R1) | UFC 232 | Dec 29, 2018 |
| Valentina Shevchenko | 2 wins (dec.) | UFC 196 / UFC 215 | 2016 / 2017 |
| Holly Holm | Win (KO, R1) | UFC 239 | Jul 6, 2019 |
| Miesha Tate | Win (sub, R1) | UFC 200 | Jul 9, 2016 |
| Julianna Peña | 1 loss, 2 wins | UFC 269 / 277 / 289* | 2021–2023 |
| Kayla Harrison | Upcoming | UFC 334 | Nov 14, 2026 |
FAQs
1. Who is Amanda Nunes?
Amanda Nunes is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist widely regarded as the greatest female MMA fighter of all time. Known as “The Lioness,” she competed in the UFC’s women’s bantamweight and featherweight divisions and became the first and only woman to hold two UFC championship belts simultaneously.
2. When did Amanda Nunes retire from MMA?
Amanda Nunes announced her retirement on June 10, 2023, immediately after her dominant unanimous decision victory over Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in Vancouver, Canada. She was 35 years old at the time and left the sport as the reigning champion in both weight classes.
3. What is Amanda Nunes’ professional fight record?
Nunes retired with a professional MMA record of 23 wins and 5 losses. Of her 23 victories, 13 came by knockout and 4 by submission. She finished her career on a 12-fight winning streak and held 11 UFC title fight wins across two divisions.
4. Which championships did Amanda Nunes hold in the UFC?
Nunes held both the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship and the UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship simultaneously, making her the first and only female “double champ” in UFC history. She successfully defended both titles multiple times before vacating them upon retirement.
5. Who are some of the notable fighters Amanda Nunes defeated?
Throughout her career, Nunes defeated a remarkable list of former and current champions, including Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Valentina Shevchenko (twice), Holly Holm, Miesha Tate, Julianna Peña, Germaine de Randamie, Megan Anderson, and Felicia Spencer.
6. Why did Amanda Nunes decide to retire?
Nunes cited family reasons and her desire to enjoy life outside the octagon while still young. Her mother had been urging her to retire for years, and she wanted to spend more time with her wife, Nina Ansaroff, and their daughter Raegan. She also revealed that Nina was expecting their second child at the time of her retirement announcement.
7. Where is Amanda Nunes from?
Amanda Nunes was born on May 30, 1988, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. She began her fighting career in Brazil, initially training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu before transitioning to mixed martial arts. She made her professional MMA debut in 2008.
8. What is Amanda Nunes’ fighting style?
Nunes is known for her aggressive, powerful striking combined with strong grappling skills. She trains extensively in boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Muay Thai. Her well-rounded skill set allowed her to dominate opponents both on the feet and on the ground, with 13 knockout wins and 4 submissions in her career.
9. What records and achievements did Amanda Nunes accomplish?
Nunes set numerous UFC women’s records, including most wins in UFC women’s history (16), most takedowns landed in a UFC women’s bantamweight fight (6 against Aldana at UFC 289), and 11 UFC title fight victories. She defeated every champion the UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight divisions have ever had.
10. What happened to the UFC women’s featherweight division after Nunes’ retirement?
Nunes’ retirement effectively marked the end of the UFC women’s featherweight division. As the sole champion in that weight class, she vacated the title upon retiring, and the UFC has not actively promoted or maintained the division since. The bantamweight title also became vacant following her departure.