After getting largely overlooked leading up to her big fight against Ronda Rousey, Amanda Nunes was looking forward to getting the spotlight for her UFC 213 title defense against Valentina Shevchenko. Instead, she got brutalized by the fans and the UFC for pulling out of the fight last minute, with UFC president Dana White declaring her physically fit to fight, if not mentally.
Nunes defended her decision to withdraw from the event, citing sinusitis. And now her longtime partner, manager and fellow UFC fighter Nina Ansaroff said the choice was an easy one to make considering the potential downside of losing.
"When you're starting to see what this life can do for you, and your family has had nothing, you realize 'Why risk it?'" Ansaroff told ESPN. "No one puts anything out there for you until you reach a certain level, so why take that risk for them? No one is going to pay our bills or take care of our family. You're going from potentially $1 million per year to $60,000 per year. And you want to put that on the line when you're feeling 50 percent?"
Hopefully Nunes is feeling 100% coming into Edmonton. Some were calling on the UFC to strip her of her belt the last time she pulled out, and a second day-of removal from the card might be enough to make the organization consider all options.