LAS VEGAS – Amanda Nunes pulled off a major shock to defeat Miesha Tate by submission in the opening round of UFC 200’s main event and claim the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s women’s bantamweight title.
Nunes, the No. 4 contender, never allowed Tate to settle and caught the reining champion with a flurry of strikes before causing her to tap at the 3:16 mark.
“She is a very fast starter, very dangerous in the first round,” Tate said. “She caught me fair and square. I made mistakes, got careless and it cost me big. I will come back stronger from this, I always do.”
The division has now seen the title change hands three times since last November due to a trio of major upsets. First, Ronda Rousey surrendered the belt after being knocked out by Holly Holm late last year.
Tate then choked out Holm in March, before Nunes stepped into the mix with a career-best performance at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night.
