It was almost as if one could hear the combat sports world’s collective jaw hit the floor.
“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 18 winner Julianna Pena authored Sherdog’s 2021 “Upset of the Year” when she submitted Amanda Nunes with a rear-naked choke and captured the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight crown in the second round of their UFC 269 co-main event on Dec. 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Nunes conceded defeat 3:26 into Round 2, suffering her first setback in more than seven years.
It was a shocking development to everyone but Pena herself.