Sports
Amanda Nunes Makes History as First Openly Gay UFC Champion
AP/John Locher
The mixed-martial arts athlete took home gold this weekend in a landmark bout.
July 12 2016 11:57 AM EST
May 26 2023 1:27 PM EST
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The mixed-martial arts athlete took home gold this weekend in a landmark bout.
Mixed-martial arts athlete Amanda Nunes took home gold this weekend after defeating Miesha Tate, rising from the arena as the first openly gay champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
During the bantamweight championship bout Saturday evening, Nunes knocked out Tate three minutes and 18 seconds into the first round.
Nunes's girlfriend and UFC fighter Nina Ansaroff was ringside for the landmark fight, and the two shared a kiss after the win, proclaiming "love is love."
\u201cLove is love \ud83d\ude18 @ufc #AndNew \ud83c\udfc6\u201d— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda Nunes) 1468287549
While the sport has long featured openly gay athletes and title contenders, Nunes has become the first openly gay fighter to take the belt.
"Now I am champion," Nunes told USA Today Sports. "Next will be whatever, whoever, they decide to put against me. I am going to enjoy being champion."