Amanda Nunes hopes to dispel cardio concerns at UFC 213, says she’s ‘ready for five rounds’

Amanda Nunes will look to defend her UFC women’s bantamweight title for the second-straight time later tonight (Sat., July 8, 2017) at UFC 213 live on pay-per-view (PPV) from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, when she takes on top contender Valentina Shevchenko. While Nunes already defeated Shevchenko to the tune of a unanimous decision back at UFC 196, it was not her greatest performance. Nunes essentially gassed out in the third and final frame of that meeting and let “Bullet” score some valuable damage. Leading into the rematch, “Lioness” is prepared to go the distance.

“I’m ready for five rounds,” Nunes said earlier this week at UFC 213’s open workouts. “She can say all those things about my condition and stuff, but I’m ready. I have to prove it Saturday, and I will, and everything will be done. I’m going for the finish. The first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth – I will be ready.”

Nunes, 29, has risen to the top of the 135-pound division by submitting Miesha Tate at UFC 200 last July and most recently smashing Ronda Rousey in 48 seconds at UFC 207 this past December. As the Brazilian gears up for her rematch with the only girl to take her the distance in her UFC career, she is staying humble and focused.

“It’s been amazing for me,” Nunes said. “My dreams have come true, and I’m just enjoying every single day. Once again I’m back in Vegas. It’s going to be amazing, for sure.”

While all six of Nunes’ UFC finishes have come in the first round, she may need to dig deep against Shevchenko in the rematch. Outside of an illegal upkick by Liz Carmouche back in 2010, “Bullet” has never been stopped inside of the cage. There’s a first time for everything, but chances are Shevchenko will make it past the first.

UFC 213 will also feature a co-main event matchup between Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker for the interim UFC middleweight championship.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 213 fight card, starting with the Fight Pass "Prelims" matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on FOX Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET.