After nearly three years away, 135-pound standout Amanda Buckner will make her long-awaited return to mixed martial arts action against rising Brazilian star Amanda “Lioness of the Ring” Nunes for the Global Fight League in February 2011. The fight will be contested at 135 pounds.
Buckner was originally scheduled to compete this past January in the first round of the Freestyle Cage Fighting Women’s Bantamweight Grand Prix, but a serious knee injury forced her back to the sidelines. After successful surgery and recovery, Buckner will now face Nunes in February.
Buckner (11-5-1) was once regarded as one of the very best female fighters in all of MMA. Her career is highlighted by a successful 2005-2007 campaign that included wins over Shayna Baszler (twice), Julie Kedzie and Hitomi Akano. During that same time, Buckner took future BodogFIGHT Champion Tara LaRosa to the limit before LaRosa secured a last-minute rear-naked choke in a fight that Buckner appeared seconds away from winning. However, after a tough loss to Takayo Hashi on April 3, 2008, Buckner found herself without a fight and injury woes kept her on the outside looking in.
Nunes (5-1-0), despite giving up a considerable amount of experience, is a very dangerous opponent for Buckner’s return. The talented striker has won five straight fights since suffering a quick submission loss to Ana Maria “India” in her pro debut, and most recently destroyed the previously unbeaten Ediane Gomes in February. Nunes dominated the fight with Gomes before finishing her opponent with punches from mount midway through round two. She also holds a stoppage win over tough veteran Vanessa Porto, who took current Strikeforce champ Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos to a decision.
Both Buckner and Nunes are well-rounded fighters, though Buckner should hold an edge if the fight goes to the ground. Nunes’s lone defeat came when she became overzealous with her strikes after knocking Ana Maria down and subsequently tapped out to an armbar. Nine of Buckner’s wins have come by way of submission, while all five of Nunes’s victories had been earned by a form of knockout. Ring rust will almost certainly be a factor for Buckner, but Nunes may also be competing for the first time in a year. She is tentatively slated to compete in December as well, but that is not confirmed.
An exact date and location for the Global Fight League event in February has not yet been announced, but it is expected that more details will be announced in the coming weeks.
(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)