Amandes Nunes Thinks It’s ‘100 Percent For Sure’ She Beats Ronda Rousey After Cat Zingano

Undefeated at 2-0 with two TKO finishes in the Octagon, No. 8-ranked women’s bantamweight Amanda Nunes is headed for the biggest bout of her MMA career when she faces returning No. 1 contender Cat Zingano at September 27’s UFC 178 pay-per-view (PPV) event from Las Vegas, Nevada.

Out of action since a first round stoppage of Germaine de Randamie at UFC Fight for the Troops 3, Nunes was unfortunately forced out of a bout with former Strikeforce women’s champion Sarah Kaufman earlier this year. But fortune fell upon “The Lioness” when the UFC decided that after nearly 15 months off following reconstructive knee surgery, “Alpha” needed a tune-up bout before she got her long awaited shot at dominant champion Ronda Rousey.

In stepped Nunes, who had been awaiting a bout of that magnitude. She told MMA Junkie that she had been campaigning for a fight with Zingano:

“I’ve been waiting for this fight. I always put in my Twitter, tagging (UFC matchmaker) Sean Shelby and (UFC President) Dana White all the time, saying I want this fight. I need a fight like this to prove I’m ready for the title shot. Then I got the call that it happened, and thank God.”

Nunes is eager to prove she’s ready for a title shot, and she has the aid of fighting in a division short on contenders for the steamrolling Rousey. However, the UFC signed Holly Holm, is intent on signing Gina Carano this week, and may be welcoming Cris “Cyborg” into the fold soon as well.

All Nunes can do to improve her chances of a title shot is win, and she feels like she knows what Zingano will try to do at UFC 178:

“I think the first minute she’ll come to strike, and then when she sees I’m better standing up she’ll try to take me down.”

Bold words from the bold Brazilian, who quickly shifted her focus to Rousey. Nunes put it bluntly by stating she’s coming to defeat the champ after she gets by Zingano in September:

“I think for sure, 100 percent, I beat Ronda Rousey after this fight with Cat. We wait for these moments. You can show that you’re prepared for the title only if you get these very big opportunities. I’m ready.”

With her dangerous knockout power and Brazilian jiu-jitsu pedigree, Nunes might be able to give Rousey a serious test in the Octagon, but that’s been said about several women ho were promptly finished inside the first round. For now, Nunes’ word will remain just that.

If she can make an example out of Zingano in two months’ time, however, we might just be singing a different tune. Will “The Lioness” soon rule the UFC jungle?

Photo Credit: Jason Silva for USA TODAY Sports