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Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena Rematch to Headline UFC 277 Card in Dallas

Doric SamMay 22, 2022

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 11: (R-L) Julianna Peña punches Amanda Nunes in their womans bantamweight title fight during the UFC 269 on December 11, 2021, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The most anticipated women's fight of 2022 now has a date.

The UFC announced on Saturday that the rematch between bantamweight champion Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes will take place in the main event of UFC 277 on Saturday, July 30 in Dallas. Pena had defeated Nunes for the title at UFC 269 in December in what is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in MMA history.

Pena shockingly earned a second-round submission victory over Nunes, which was her first loss since 2014 and ended her title reign after four defenses of the belt. It was a special performance by Pena that saw her batter the former champion with her boxing before sinking in a rear-naked choke and forcing a quick tap-out.

After the loss, Nunes told ESPN that she had been dealing with multiple knee injuries heading into the fight. Universally considered the best women's fighter of all time, Nunes still holds the UFC featherweight championship.

The UFC selected Pena and Nunes to be coaches for the current season of The Ultimate Fighter, which airs on ESPN+. Pena said prior to the season that she was surprised to learn about a certain aspect of Nunes' personality.

"I really thought that I was high maintenance, like the most high maintenance, like no one gets more high maintenance than me. Right? I’m a diva! Then I experienced the things that Amanda was doing," Pena said on the Morning Kombat podcast last month. "My goodness, wow! I didn’t think that."

In addition to Pena and Nunes' titlefight, the UFC 277 co-main event will be an interim flyweight championship bout between Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France.