Amanda Nunes has been the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion since submitting Miesha Tate in the main event of UFC 200.
The champion has successfully defended the belt twice now and despite that success, the fighter says the UFC doesn’t want her as the champion.
"They're not idiots, they know what they do," says Nunes to Flo Combat. “It's all about marketing. That's why it's the UFC, that's why they're doing it. They want to get someone to beat me for me to get out badly. I told them about it, I know that's what they want, someone that they can really promote and make money with.”
Nunes is the promotions first openly gay champion, as she is in a relationship with fellow UFC fighter Nina Ansaroff.
While Nunes feels that she doesn’t fit the UFC’s perception of a women’s champion, the Brazilian does know what the UFC looks for in their female champions.
"There's a point where, sometimes, I'd rather wait a bit and get a fight that sells," Nunes said. "It's all about pay-per-view, everything revolves around that and I don’t really get a part of that. I don’t really fit the profile of a UFC champion, but they have to do [business] with me, even though they're never going to promote me to a level like they did Ronda Rousey or Holly Holm. They want blondies, cute little girls who fight and take pictures. Let's face it, I have to face the girls who sell best."
UFC 215 was the last time that Nunes defended her belt and the champion earned a decision win over Valentina Shevchenko on that night.
