Nina Nunes (née Ansaroff; born December 3, 1985)[7] is an American former mixed martial artist who last competed in the women's flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
| Nina Nunes | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nina Ansaroff December 3, 1985 Weston, Florida, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Weight | 126 lb (57 kg; 9.0 st) |
| Division | Strawweight (2014–2021) Flyweight (2013, 2022) |
| Reach | 64 in (163 cm)[1] |
| Fighting out of | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.[2] |
| Team | American Top Team (2008–2012, 2014–present)[3][4][5] MMA Masters (2012–2014)[6] |
| Rank | 3rd degree black belt in Taekwondo[1] Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[1] |
| Years active | 2008–2022 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 18 |
| Wins | 11 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Losses | 7 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Spouse | Amanda Nunes |
| Children | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Background
Nunes was born and raised in Weston, Florida. Her maternal grandparents descend from North Macedonia.[3] Nunes started practicing Taekwondo at the age of 6.[1] She wrestled while at Lake Region High School.[8] She began training in mixed martial arts in 2009 as a way to lose weight and to help keep in shape following a motorcycle accident.[1]
Mixed martial arts career
Nunes made her professional debut in 2010 competing in regional promotions, and amassed a record of 5–3 before joining Invicta FC.[1][9]
Invicta FC
Nunes made her promotional debut against Munah Holland on December 7, 2013, at Invicta FC 7.[10] Nunes won the fight via TKO in the third round and earned the Knockout of the Night bonus award.[11][12]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Nunes made her debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) against Juliana Lima on November 8, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 56.[13] Nunes lost the fight via unanimous decision.[14]
Nunes was expected to face Rose Namajunas on May 23, 2015, at UFC 187.[11] Nunes missed weight on her first attempt at the weigh-ins, coming in 4 lbs overweight at 120 lbs.[15] After having made no attempts to cut further, she was fined 20 percent of her fight purse, which went to Namajunas.[15] However, on the day of the event, Nunes was pulled out of the bout by UFC doctors after contracting a case of the flu. As a result, Namajunas was pulled from the event entirely.[16]
Nunes next faced Justine Kish at UFC 195 on January 2, 2016.[17] She lost the fight by unanimous decision.[18]
Nunes faced Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger at UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn on January 15, 2017.[19] She won the fight via submission in the third round.[20]
Nunes faced Angela Hill at UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis on November 11, 2017.[21] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[22]
Nunes faced Randa Markos on July 28, 2018, at UFC on Fox: Alvarez vs. Poirier 2.[23] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[24]
Nunes faced Cláudia Gadelha on December 8, 2018, at UFC 231.[25] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[26]
Nunes faced Tatiana Suarez on June 8, 2019, at UFC 238.[27] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[28]
On October 10, 2019, Nunes announced that she would put her mixed martial arts career on hold in order to attempt to have her first child.[29] The attempts were successful as in March 2020, her wife Amanda Nunes announced that the couple is expecting their first child, to be born later that year. Nina Nunes gave birth to a daughter in September 2020.[30]
Nunes faced Mackenzie Dern on April 10, 2021, at UFC on ABC 2.[31] She lost the bout via first round armbar.[32]
Nunes was scheduled to face Amanda Lemos on December 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 199.[33] However, Nunes was removed from the bout for undisclosed reason and she was replaced by Angela Hill.[34]
Move up to flyweight division
Nunes was scheduled to face Cynthia Calvillo in a flyweight bout on July 9, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 39.[35] However, the day of the event, Nunes withdrew due to illness and the bout was initially cancelled, but eventually rescheduled for UFC on ESPN 41 on August 13, 2022.[36] Nunes won the fight via split decision,[37] and she announced her retirement after the fight.[38]
Coaches
- Marcus "Conan" Silveira - Head Coach
- Mike Brown
- Thiago Alves
- Steve Mocco - Wrestling
- Phil Daru - Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
- Jose Rojas - Strength & Conditioning/Nutrition
Personal life
Nunes is married to retired UFC fighter Amanda Nunes, the former UFC Women's Bantamweight and Featherweight champion.[39][40] The couple welcomed a daughter on September 24, 2020.[41] In April 2021 she began using the last name Nunes within the UFC. Her April 10 fight against Mackenzie Dern was her first fight under her new last name.[42]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts record
| 18 matches | 11 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 0 |
| By submission | 2 | 2 |
| By decision | 5 | 5 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 11–7 | Cynthia Calvillo | Decision (split) | UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Cruz | August 13, 2022 | 3 | 3:00 | San Diego, California, United States | Return to Flyweight. |
| Loss | 10–7 | Mackenzie Dern | Submission (armbar) | UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland | April 10, 2021 | 1 | 4:48 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 10–6 | Tatiana Suarez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 238 | June 8, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 10–5 | Cláudia Gadelha | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 231 | December 8, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Toronto, Canada | |
| Win | 9–5 | Randa Markos | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Alvarez vs. Poirier 2 | July 28, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 8–5 | Angela Hill | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis | November 11, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Norfolk, Virginia, United States | |
| Win | 7–5 | Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn | January 15, 2017 | 3 | 3:39 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Loss | 6–5 | Justine Kish | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 195 | January 2, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 6–4 | Juliana Lima | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Saint Preux | November 8, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Uberlândia, Brazil | Strawweight debut. |
| Win | 6–3 | Munah Holland | TKO (punches) | Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith | December 7, 2013 | 3 | 3:54 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Flyweight bout. Knockout of the Night. |
| Win | 5–3 | Aylla Caroline Lima | TKO (body kick and punches) | Premier Fight League 10 | June 15, 2013 | 1 | 1:25 | Serrinha, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–3 | Trisha Clark | TKO (punches) | Centurion Fights | March 1, 2013 | 2 | 2:14 | St. Joseph, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 3–3 | Tyra Parker | Submission (armbar) | Wild Bill's Fight Night 51 | December 15, 2012 | 2 | 2:00 | Duluth, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 2–3 | Jessica Doerner | TKO (punches) | The Cage Inc.: Battle at the Border 11 | November 24, 2012 | 1 | 1:52 | Hankinson, North Dakota, United States | |
| Loss | 1–3 | Casey Noland | Submission (rear-naked choke) | The Cage Inc.: Battle at the Border 10 | July 30, 2011 | 1 | 1:18 | Hankinson, North Dakota, United States | |
| Loss | 1–2 | Barb Honchak | Decision (unanimous) | Crowbar MMA: Spring Brawl 2 | April 29, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Carla Esparza | Decision (split) | Crowbar MMA: Winter Brawl | December 10, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Catia Vitoria | Decision (unanimous) | Crowbar MMA: Fall Brawl | September 11, 2010 | 5 | 5:00 | Fargo, North Dakota, United States |
| Amateur record breakdown | ||
| 3 matches | 3 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 3–0 | Jenny Yum | Decision (unanimous) | HOOKnSHOOT – GFight Summit 2010 | March 20, 2010 | 3 | 3:00 | Evansville, Indiana, United States | |
| Win[44] | 2–0 | Christy Tada | TKO (referee stoppage) | The Future Stars of MMA | April 24, 2009 | 1 | 0:46 | ||
| Win[44] | 1–0 | Sara Seitz | TKO (submission to punches) | Xplosive Caged Combat | January 11, 2008 | 3 | 1:30 |