Media Who is the best grappler Nunes has fought? Has Amanda Nunes Ever Fought a Grappler on Kayla Harrison’s Level?

[Dr. Rose]

 

[TimeToTrain]

Kayla by complete domination

 

[El Fernas]

When she fought Peña she completely outclassed it, but it happened on the feet, when she fought GDR (not a wrestler of course) she then took the fight to the ground as GDR would had taken her head off... so no, she hasnt been in that position cause she is good all around, her striking is good enough to beat what the division had to offer, and when it wasnt, her wrestling was also good enough to dominate those she couldnt on her feet.

Prime Rousey would had been a decent a fight maybe, and i mean as pre-Holm still focused Ronda Rousey, not the version Nunes fought, thats a grappler on the level of Harrison, or at least one with good judo credentials and an "unbeatable" arm bar if they got taken to the ground.

Harrison is a good challenge, younger, just as big if not bigger, and a great grappler with standup game thats not Peña bad.

 

[Clark Rogers]

I mean Ronda is the obvious answer, but she didn’t have any chance to get anything grappling going.
So Nunes has to repeatedly punch Kayla in the face. Preferably really hard.

I'm honestly surprised it took that long for someone to say Ronda, esp when comparing to Kayla given their damn near identical backgrounds.

Like, someone actually said Meisha but didn't mention Ronda... but Meisha couldn't handle Ronda on the ground in either fight... this place is funny.

Edit, Meisha and Zingano lol wtf

 

[TrueBias]

At this point who gives a shit. Women arent as entertaining as the men and these 2 are not easy to look at..

Whats to sell? Marketing, presentation, these are necessary for profit and this title fight has two manly women fighting, and the heterosexual one is the manlier look.

I was on board with wmma, but I understand the "cigarette break" reference now.

 

[Mmmmmmma1234]

Yes in Rhonda. So Nunes just needs to do what she did there, Kayla never faced anyone with the power and skills of Amanda, the closet comparison is Larissa who showed she wasn't able to stand with Cyborg but hurt Kayla enough to stop her grappling and win PFL.
Maybe Kayla is a lot better today and Amanda post retirement could bevout of shape but if she's on Kayla in for some CTE.

 

[PaulieVegas27]

Cris Cyborg.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Answer is Ronda, and Nunes almost committed a homicide when they fought

 

[CoconutHead]

So Sherbums, I need y’all to help settle something that’s been bugging me.

With this potential Kayla Harrison fight looming—a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo—I started thinking…

Has Amanda Nunes ever faced a grappler even close to Kayla’s level?

Off the top of my head, her résumé is stacked with strikers: Valentina, Cyborg, Holly, Aldana, Pennington. Even Peña, who’s supposed to be “grappling-based,” fights more like a wild brawler than a technical mat specialist.

Let’s be honest—who’s actually tried to take Amanda down and dominate her on the ground?

I do remember her getting mauled by Cat Zingano back in the day. Cat put her on her back and wrecked her with ground-and-pound. Has anyone else even come close to that?

I don't think they have. Until her personal challenges got to be too much she was a bad Cat. That's one one of my favorite womens' fights ever.

 

[Hymen Crusher]

No woman has fought a grappler as good as Harrison unless you fought Harrison.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

So Sherbums, I need y’all to help settle something that’s been bugging me.

With this potential Kayla Harrison fight looming—a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo—I started thinking…

Has Amanda Nunes ever faced a grappler even close to Kayla’s level?

Off the top of my head, her résumé is stacked with strikers: Valentina, Cyborg, Holly, Aldana, Pennington. Even Peña, who’s supposed to be “grappling-based,” fights more like a wild brawler than a technical mat specialist.

Let’s be honest—who’s actually tried to take Amanda down and dominate her on the ground?

I do remember her getting mauled by Cat Zingano back in the day. Cat put her on her back and wrecked her with ground-and-pound. Has anyone else even come close to that?

Close to Kayla's grappling? Rhonda would be the closest I suppose.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Juliana Peña also submitted Sarah McMann but could even move Kayla….

Don't remember the fight too well since I always thought Sara was not all that good, but taking from the Sherdog pbp and the fight stats, Sara won the first round w/ takedowns and the second round was mixed in the scoring, but stats have Sara at 4:11 for control time. So Pena did end up submitting her, but she wasn't exactly the superior grappler throughout the fight.

 

[Dreyga Hates You Sherbums]

Don't remember the fight too well since I always thought Sara was not all that good, but taking from the Sherdog pbp and the fight stats, Sara won the first round w/ takedowns and the second round was mixed in the scoring, but stats have Sara at 4:11 for control time. So Pena did end up submitting her, but she wasn't exactly the superior grappler throughout the fight.

Fairpoint, if anything, Peña ended up out lasting her with superior cardio and then took over the fight.

I have to say I’m generally amazed and has been able to pull off all these windows with so few tools at her disposal

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Fairpoint, if anything, Peña ended up out lasting her with superior cardio and then took over the fight.

I have to say I’m generally amazed and has been able to pull off all these windows with so few tools at her disposal

She is incredibly tool-less for someone who was a two-time champ. But she has a lot of no-nonsense forward pressure and grit to go with it, and I really hate to generalize because male fighters can wilt or retreat when they hit pressure, but I just feel like that's a bit more common in some levels of WMMA. I expect that to reduce as WMMA keeps it's stay as a regular thing though.