Amanda Nunes Expects Holly Holm To 'Run, Run, Run' At UFC 239

Amanda Nunes returns to the Octagon this weekend at UFC 239 to defend her bantamweight belt for the first time since becoming the first women’s dual-division champion, and does not expect challenger Holly Holm to stand and trade with her.

After shocking the world by knocking out Cris Cyborg last December for the featherweight belt, Nunes drops back down to the bantamweight division to fight former champ Holm. “The Lioness” told MMA Heat that her opponent presents a different challenge this weekend, as she expects “The Preacher’s Daughter” to use a lot of movement when they fight, but will be ready for whatever Holm brings.

“Holly has very good movement,” Nunes said. “She moves a lot, she goes in and out. I know she’s going to look to outpoint me. Try to hold me against the cage… because all my opponents think that.”

The 31-year-old believes Holm will use movement during their fight to find the perfect opening to land her attacks instead of standing in the pocket and exchanging.

“I feel like she’s going to run, run, run and play the point, point, point until she finds the right moment. She has very good kicks. I have to be ready for everything in this fight. Holly’s very tough and dangerous. I’m like really, really ready for everything she’s going to bring on the night.”

Nunes has fought and beaten all previous UFC women’s champions in both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions including Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Valentina Shevchenko and Cris Cyborg. Holm represents the last fighter on that list and a win by the Brazilian could cement her status as the greatest women’s MMA fighter of all time.