Amanda Nunes vs. Holly Holm targeted for UFC 239

MMAfighting.com

Amanda Nunes will return to defend her 135-pound throne this summer.

A blockbuster matchup between the UFC’s reigning two-division women’s champion Nunes and former bantamweight titleholder Holly Holm has been verbally agreed upon for July 6 at UFC 239. MMA Fighting confirmed the news Wednesday following an initial report by ESPN. Nunes vs. Holm is expected to serve as the co-main event of the UFC’s International Fight Week pay-per-view underneath Jon Jones vs. Thiago Santos.

Nunes (17-4) is widely regarded as the No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound female fighter in the sport. The Brazilian champion has won eight consecutive fights en route to capturing titles in both the UFC’s bantamweight and featherweight divisions. Her streak is highlighted by victories over respected names such as Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Valentina Shevchenko (x2), and Sara McMann. This past December, Nunes notched perhaps her most impressive win yet with a stunning 51-second knockout of Cris Cyborg.

Holm (12-4), on the other hand, rebounded in 2018 from a tough loss to Cyborg by picking up a unanimous decision victory over Megan Anderson at 145 pounds. A celebrated boxer who captured the UFC’s bantamweight belt in shocking fashion in 2015 with a thunderous knockout of Rousey, Holm bested Bethe Correia via third-round KO in her most recent outing at 135 pounds.

UFC 239 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.