Amanda Nunes is speaking out after withdrawing from UFC 213.
The Brazilian was scheduled to fight Valentina Shevchenko in the main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but said she didn’t feel well enough to fight. While Nunes was taken to the hospital for an undisclosed illness both Friday and Saturday morning, she was cleared to fight by a doctor, UFC president Dana White said.
White was not pleased about losing the night’s main attraction. The Yoel Romero vs. Robert Whittaker interim middleweight title fight served as the main event instead.
“I think that it was 90 percent mental and maybe 10 percent physical,” White said of Nunes’ decision not to fight. “She probably didn’t feel right. I think a lot of times fighters have had times they don’t feel right.”
The bantamweight champion released a statement on Twitter early Sunday morning and vowed to get back in the ring when her health returns to 100 percent.
White said the bout may be rescheduled for UFC 215 on Sept. 9 in Edmonton, but he stressed Nunes won’t get top billing.
“I won’t do that again,” White said of putting Nunes in a main event slot.
Shevchenko was frustrated by Nunes’ withdrawal and took to Instagram to share her thoughts.
“Today I am 100% ready for this fight,” Shevchenko wrote. “During the last 3 months of training I did everything to be in my best shape for this fight. Nunes couldn’t cut weight correctly and was hospitalized. She wanted to cut weight and recover rapidly to have the advantage. The end result, everything went wrong. Even though she was medically cleared to fight, she backed out. This fight was originally offered to take place in April and she would not accept then.
“I did my part and am very upset that I can’t fight for the title today on this great event. I am even more upset for all my dear fans who support me every time throughout the world and to those who traveled to see me fight here in Las Vegas live. I feel frustrated about what happened but I won’t relax, will not put down energy in my preparation, and will wait until the UFC gives us another date for the fight.”
Nunes (14-4) became the reigning champion after she defeated Miesha Tate last July. Nunes faced Shevchenko at UFC 196 in 2016 and won by unanimous decision.
