Amanda Nunes is being labeled by some as the greatest women’s MMA fighter in history after knocking out Cristiane Justino at UFC 232 to take her featherweight title.
In the aftermath of the fight, “Cyborg” said she should be given an immediate rematch against Nunes. However, Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White was non-committal over the prospect of the pair facing off in the short term, saying, “It won’t happen anytime soon due to how convincing the win was.”
Nunes’ coach, Conan Silveira, whom she described as a “father-like-figure” during her post-fight speech on Saturday night, was a recent guest on the latest episode of The MMA Hour. Silveira claims Nunes is on a different level than any of her opponents, including Justino.
“I’d never put that it way, to say it’s not possible [for Cyborg to beat Nunes in a rematch],” Silviera said. “I’d just explain it in the way of how Amanda is as a fighter.
“I believe for you to get close to her you have to understand fighting more than she does and I think that, right now, I don’t see anybody [who does],” Silveira added. “Of course, I’m not in any way disrespecting Cyborg or any other fighter, but I don’t see that. I think Amanda is on a different level of MMA.”
Silveira also echoed the sentiment of the UFC President in that “Cyborg” shouldn’t get an immediate rematch due to the clinical finish by Nunes.
“The reason why I say I don’t believe that I don’t think that there will be a rematch is because I think a rematch should only happen if it was a split decision, or even a unanimous decision where you probably don’t know which way the fight was going to go,” he said.
“When you knock somebody out don’t come to me and say that it was lucky, ‘Oh it was a lucky shot.’ No. That was very visible and clear that Amanda knew what she was doing, everybody saw it and Cyborg could not handle it. I don’t see why you would have a rematch.”