Nina Nunes announces retirement following UFC on ESPN 41 victory

Nina Nunes is choosing family over her fighting career.

The 36-year-old American Top Team representative announced her retirement following a split-decision triumph over Cynthia Calvillo in a preliminary flyweight bout at UFC on ESPN 41 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego on Saturday. It was Nunes’ 125 pound debut following a 4-4 stint at 115 pounds. Nunes left her gloves in the center of the cage before announcing her decision to Daniel Cormier in a post-fight Octagon interview.

“As a fighter, I think I’ve done what I wanted to,” Nines said. “It started as a hobby. I got all the way here. I’m going to focus on coaching and bringing up those girls that are struggling right now.

“I want more babies,” she added. “So I’m stepping away to have another kid.”

Nunes, who is the wife of UFC two-divison champion Amanda Nunes, was away from the sport for nearly two years to have the couple’s first child. She returned with a first-round submission loss to Mackenzie Dern at UFC on ABC 2 in April 2021 before besting Calvillo. Nunes’ best success occurred during a four-bout winning streak from 2017-18, when she bested the likes of Angela Hill, Rando Markos and Claudia Gadelha. She ends her MMA tenure with an 11-7 record.