UFC President Dana White guaranteed Nunes (r) will rise to star status following her win in UFC 232GETTY IMAGES
After Amanda Nunes defeated Cris "Cyborg" Justino at UFC 232 on Saturday for the featherweight title, it is now "up to the UFC to make good on its second chance to push the greatest women’s mixed martial artist in the young sport’s history" after the fighting promotion "thoroughly botched making Nunes a star the first time around" in '16, according to Dave Doyle of YAHOO SPORTS. Nunes' first title defense of her bantamweight belt was a "bout with Ronda Rousey" at UFC 207 in December '16. Rousey is a WME client, and in a "rookie move, the company made Nunes all but invisible in the buildup to the fight." Nunes "made Rousey look like a rank amateur that night," and there was "no Plan B" following Rousey's loss. WME used "none of its promotional muscle to get Nunes publicity following her title win." However, UFC President Dana White now "obviously senses he has a chance to start fresh with Nunes." White after UFC 232 said, "You think Amanda Nunes isn’t going to be a star after this? I (expletive) guarantee it. I promise you that." Doyle wrote White now has a "chance to back up his words." Doyle: "Let’s see WME/Endeavor use a smidgen of their muscle and take advantage of the buzz off Nunes’ victory" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/2). ESPN.com's Jeff Wagenheim wrote UFC is "left with a two-division champion who has slayed a couple of its biggest stars." It is "up to the storytellers at the UFC" to push the tale of Nunes "into the public consciousness" (ESPN.com, 1/1).
