Julianna Pena vs Amanda Nunes Prediction: Can Nunes Get Her Revenge Against Pena at UFC 277?

Julianna Pena vs Amanda Nunes Prediction: Can Nunes Get Her Revenge Against Pena at UFC 277?

Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena will rematch for the women's bantamweight title tonight in the main event of UFC 277. Nunes was a massive -900 favorite in the first fight and was submitted in the second round, with Pena taking the belt from Nunes and shocking the world.

This time around, the books still think Nunes gets it done, but the line has dropped significantly down to -250. A lot of people seem to believe Nunes may be close to retirement and that Pena has her number. Can Nunes bounce back and reclaim the title? Let's get into my prediction, pick, and odds for Pena vs Nunes.

Julianna Pena vs Amanda Nunes Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

• Date: July 30, 2022
• Fight Time: 10:00 pm ET
• Where to Watch: PPV

Click Here for Pena vs Nunes Odds

Julianna Pena vs Amanda Nunes Prediction

In the words of Michael Bisping, the best fighter doesn't always win the fight. I would say this is the best way to put what happened to Nunes in the first fight. It was a worst-case scenario for Nunes leading up to the fight, however. Many people forget that Nunes.

Pena won in the first fight by withstanding the early storm from Nunes and waiting for her time to push for the finish herself. Nunes seemed uncharasterically slow in the fight and tired out extremely quick, looking gassed in the second round. However, I believe this is primarily due to what I touched on previously and that Nunes had a horrible camp and training leading up to the fight due to her battle with covid.

Pena did precisely what she needed to. She used her raw aggression and powerful hands to combat Nunes' own power and outlasted the champ. Many people think this is how she wins again. However, Nunes is not easy to put away, and with a better camp and not having to deal with covid this time around, Nunes should look closer to her former self again.

Nunes had only been finished once in the UFC before Pena's finish, and Nunes has shown to be extremely durable. Many people think she will gas again as she did in the first fight, but she has many five-round unanimous decision wins in her prior title defenses. She's not that old either. She's only 34 years old, so the "aging" theory is probably not true. I just think Nunes had a horrible camp and may have been overlooking her opponent a bit in her first fight, expecting another easy win like she had been doing for nearly a decade in her title defenses.

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Pena isn't impossible to put away, either. Let's not forget that three fights ago, Pena was submitted by Germaine de Randamie, an opponent that Nunes put away in five dominant rounds. Two fights before that, Pena was submitted by Valentina Shevchenko, an opponent Nunes beat TWICE. Pena has often found herself overextending, although she didn't in the first fight against Nunes. However, if Nunes cracks Pena early this time, as I expect her to, Pena will probably scramble and try to take Nunes down quickly or throw unwarranted strikes to fire back. That is a situation that Nunes will finish her in within no time.

Listen, you don't need me to tell you that Nunes is the best women's fighter in the UFC (yes, she's better than Shevchenko. She beat her twice). It's obvious to sit back and say Nunes beats Pena nine times out of ten. Well, Pena pulled off that one in ten in the first fight. She fought perfectly, and Nunes had the disadvantage of dealing with covid and a bad camp. Nunes told the media she had a much better camp this time and feels much better.

Nunes also has revenge fueling her this time and should respect Pena's game more and not overextend. It would be easy to say Nunes wins this fight since she's -250, so I will knock down the juice by taking her to win inside the distance. Pena weathered the storm in the first fight. I'm not so sure she will this time around. Take the former champ to take the belt back with a finish.

Julianna Pena vs Amanda Nunes Pick

Play: Amanda Nunes Wins Inside the Distance @ -125 (Bet $125 to win $100)

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