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A14 sports
Saturday 30 July 2022
Peña seeks to back up shocker in UFC title rematch vs. Nunes

DALLAS (AP) — Julianna watching some of her
Peña stunned pretty much team's practices, wanted
everyone but herself when to pull off an epic prank dur-
she took the bantam- ing the show. But UFC Presi-
weight title from two-divi- dent Dana White squashed
sion champion Amanda plans that included Johnny
Nunes in one of the biggest Knoxville and a giant bear.
upsets in UFC history. While calling Peña a tough
"I'm the champion of the opponent, Nunes said she
world. This is what I want- is definitely 100% for the re-
ed," Peña said. "Now there's match. She is even consid-
nothing left to do but the ered by most the favorite
job itself. And that's let peo- to win this time, though not
ple know who I am. This is by nearly as much as those
my opportunity to show 10-1 odds she was favored
people who I am and kind before the pre-Christmas
of let them get to know loss in Las Vegas.
me." "I want the belt back,"
Her first defense of the title Nunes said. "I miss the belt."
in the 135-pound division Kara-France has gone
will be a rematch against 4-1 since his first slugfest
Nunes at UFC 277 on Sat- against Moreno, who said
urday night, and the for- Julianna Pena, right, throws a right to Amanda Nunes during a women's bantamweight mixed his opponent appears to
mer bantamweight cham- martial arts title bout at UFC 269, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, in Las Vegas. have more confidence in
pion wants back the belt Associated Press the octagon.
that she had held more "Better decisions. That
than five years before her for so long, now I'm finally cause of a hand injury for fighters, even though there makes a fighter very dan-
12-fight winning streak was like getting into the position Figueiredo, there will be is a shared respect. gerous," Moreno said. "I'm
snapped last December. that I like to feel a threat. an interim champion in- "Without Amanda and expecting, maybe not the
Nunes (21-5) said she wasn't These are the moments stead of a fourth fight now without me, there would be same fight than the last
properly prepared for that that I shine in the most." against Moreno. no headlining of this UFC fight in 2019, but I'm ex-
fight at UFC 269 because Peña-Nunez isn't the only "I don't want to wait. … I just 277. We are the two best pecting fireworks."
of knee issues that affected rematch during UFC's first wanted to fight," said More- female fighters in the divi- A three-fight winning streak
her cardio training. fight night in Dallas since no, who fought only once sion in mixed martial arts," for Kara-France includes
While Nunes didn't want 2018. in 2021 — the middle fight Peña said. "If I didn't have a first-round win over for-
to delay again after being Brandon Moreno (19-6) against Figueiredo when Amanda and if Amanda mer champion Cody Gar-
forced to withdraw from a and Kai Kara-France (24- he became UFC's first Mexi- didn't have me, then none brandt and a victory over
scheduled August bout be- 9), the top two flyweight can-born champion. of this would exist. So I ab- contender Askar Askarov.
cause of a positive COV- contenders, will fight for an Nunes, still the champion solutely respect her and "I stopped chasing the
ID-19 test, she also thought interim title in the division. in the 145-pound women's honor that fact because it 'becoming the champion'
she was ready. But she got Moreno won a unanimous featherweight division, and takes two to tango." and started believing it,"
hurt and tired in the second decision over Kara-France Peña were coaches on When asked what she Kara-France said. "I'm at
round, then tapped out in December 2019. "The Ultimate Fighter" for learned about Peña while the stage where it doesn't
when unable to escape a Deiveson Figueiredo re- the 30th season of the real- taping "The Ultimate Fight- even matter who I'm fight-
rear naked choke. gained the flyweight belt ity TV show that just aired its er," Nunes responded that ing. .... It's about yourself,
"It was the challenge that from Moreno with a unani- final episode. she was weird and always and I'm just more than
I needed," Nunes said. "I mous decision in a trilogy That only created more on her phone. Peña, who ready to become a world
went without a challenge fight in January. But be- animosity between the two said she caught Nunes champion."q

Naquin goes to 1st-place Mets from last-place Reds

MIAMI (AP) — Tyler Naquin Naquin, a first-round draft the Triple-A farm team.
went to the first-place Mets pick 10 years ago, was bat- Naquin was drafted 15th
from the last-place Reds ting .246 with seven homers overall by Cleveland in
and was on the bench for and 33 RBIs in 56 games for 2012 and made his major
Friday night's series opener the Reds. He homered and league debut in 2016, finish-
at Miami. drove in two runs Thursday ing third in AL Rookie of the
New York acquired the left- afternoon in a 7-6 loss to Year voting after posting
handed-hitting outfielder the Marlins. an .886 OPS in 116 games.
and lefty reliever Phillip Die- "Whatever they need, just While in Cleveland, he was
hl from on Thursday night take it day by day, and teammates with current
in a deal for two teenage wherever I fit in," Naquin Mets shortstop Francisco
minor leaguers, outfielder said. Lindor and pitcher Carlos
Hector Rodríguez and right- Outfielder Travis Jankowski Carrasco.
hander Jose Acuña. was designated for assign- Beset by injuries throughout
"It's fun, exciting news. It's ment by the Mets, who also his career, Naquin signed
Cincinnati Reds' Tyler Naquin (12) reacts after hitting a solo been a whirlwind the last recalled left-hander Sam with Cincinnati as a free
home run during the sixth inning of the second baseball game couple of hours," Naquin Clay and right-hander Ste- agent in February 2021 and
of a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Thursday, July said. "We have a good phen Nogosek from Syra- batted .270 last year with
7, 2022, in Cincinnati. ballclub. It's cool to look cuse and optioned left- career highs of 19 homers,
Associated Press forward to that." hander David Peterson to 70 RBIs and 127 games.q