Amanda Nunes became the first woman other than former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey to make at least one successful defense of the women’s bantamweight title. That win was a 48 second thrashing of Rousey at UFC 207, but it was a win that inspired Nunes' longtime girlfriend in Nina Ansaroff.
“She says it all the time (that Ansaroff will be a champion in the UFC),” Ansaroff told MMA Junkie Radio. “Every time we train, every time someone talks about me. She believes in me as much as I believe in her. She has an idea of where I stand – she’s the world champion and I’m her No. 1 sparring partner – so, it kind of, she knows how tough of a time I give her in training. Someone believes in you that much, it’s contagious and motivating. Look what it did for Ronda (Rousey), and Sage (Northcutt), all these people. When you have someone behind you that’s high up there and means that much and you’ve got that push, it makes it easier. You believe your own hype for a little bit, and sometimes it helps.”
Besides the support of Nunes, Ansaroff trains and spars with current UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk, a valuable learning experience for the fighter.
“It was exciting for me; of course you want to see where you stand,” Ansaroff said. “I know where I stand with Amanda. She’s the champ of 135. You just kind of want to see where it is in your weight class. But I know where I am right now. I know I have some fights to get up there. I’m not going to fight (Jedrzejczyk) any time soon. So it was actually a good thing for me, and I was able to help her and she was able to help me and that’s about it. There’s no egos involved, we got good training and that’s the end of it.”
UFC Fight Night 103 takes place on Sunday, January 15 from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Yair Rodriguez and BJ Penn headlining.
