Amanda Nunes claims UFC only promotes ‘cute little blondes,’ doesn't believe she fits championship mold

Reigning UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes is never going to be as popular as Ronda Rousey and that’s okay. But considering the 135-pound queen is dismantling each and every title challenger thrown her way, maybe it’s time for UFC to promote her like she could be “Rowdy.”

Unfortunately, UFC has not done its best to boost Nunes’ notoriety and push her like they would other fighters. That’s not a knock on her fighting ability, especially after seeing her finish Rousey in 48 seconds back at UFC 207, but more so the image “Lioness” believes the promotion is looking for.

"There's a point where, sometimes, I'd rather wait a bit and get a fight that sells," Nunes told FloCombat. "It's all about pay-per-view, everything revolves around that and I don’t really get a part of that. I don’t really fit the profile of a UFC champion, but they have to do [business] with me, even though they're never going to promote me to a level like they did Ronda Rousey or Holly Holm. They want blondies, cute little girls who fight and take pictures. Let's face it, I have to face the girls who sell best."

It gets even worse. Not only does Nunes truly believe that the promotion is unwilling to market a fighter like herself, but the inspiring Brazilian champion is under the assumption that UFC wants her to lose her bantamweight title as soon as possible.

"They're not idiots, they know what they do," Nunes said. “It's all about marketing. That's why it's the UFC, that's why they're doing it. They want to get someone to beat me for me to get out badly. I told them about it, I know that's what they want, someone that they can really promote and make money with.”

As it is with any fighter, champion or not, Nunes often finds it difficult to further secure herself financially due to the lack of promotion she receives from UFC.

"Every athlete depends on the money they make [with their sport]," Nunes said. “Obviously, I want to make money. Having the belt is a dream come true, but ultimately, you’ve got to have something in your bank account to be able to do your thing. It’s a good thing, but without the necessary publicity and marketing, things like sponsorships are difficult to get.

"The UFC only shows the good moments of some people and only the bad ones of others, which is the case with me, and every fight I have, it’s like this.”

Nunes is coming off a split-decision win over rival Valentina Shevchenko back at UFC 215 — extending her current divisional win streak to six — and will most likely look to defend her title for the third-straight time early next year.