How a motorcycle accident transformed Nina Nunes into a professional fighter
In short: Nina Nunes did not set out to become a professional mixed martial artist. Following a motorcycle accident, she turned to training in 2009 as a way to stay in shape and lose weight. This pursuit eventually led her to the highest levels of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Born in Weston, Florida, on December 3, 1985, Nunes began her combat sports journey long before her professional debut. She started practicing Taekwondo at age six and later wrestled while attending Lake Region High School. It was only in 2009 that she began training in mixed martial arts, motivated by weight loss and recovery following a motorcycle accident. Her maternal grandparents are from Macedonia. She first started her martial arts training when she was six years old.
Nunes' professional career began in 2010, building a 5–3 record in regional promotions before moving to Invicta FC. Her Invicta showing was remarkable; she achieved a third-round TKO and a Knockout of the Night bonus during her December 7, 2013, debut versus Munah Holland. This momentum carried her into the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she competed in the women's flyweight division.
Her UFC tenure was marked by significant highs and setbacks. In May 2015, she was scheduled to face Rose Namajunas at UFC 187, but after missing weight by 4 lbs—coming in at 120 lbs—she was pulled from the bout due to the flu. Despite such challenges, Nunes achieved notable victories, including a unanimous decision win over Cláudiaudia Gadelha on December 8, 2018, which was ranked as the #9 Upset of the Year. She eventually retired on August 13, 2022, following a split decision victory over Cynthia Calvillo. She also faced opponents such as Tatiana Suarez and Angela Hill during her time in the UFC. Following her final victory, she chose to retire from professional competition.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Nina Nunes
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