kane2021 wrote:Why did you hate on her? I totally understand. I hated on Jordan. That will never change. I hated on Kobe and Floyd. That did change. Those guys won me over. Mostly because it was nothing personal. (Unlike Jordan).
But I came to a point where their talent wasn’t something I could hate on and be real anymore. I ended becoming a fan. For example. Kobe and Floyd was so good I couldn’t deny the greatness I was witnessing anymore. So I gave up and enjoyed it. My moment with Floyd was against sugar Shane. I wanted Floyd to lose in every fight until he got seriously tagged in that fight. After that I gave up.
For me it’s about witnessing greatness. I even stood up for and applauded Reggie miller when he retired. Who I still would like to punch in the face. But it’s not often you see greatness in your life. So I’ve softened. A little. Lol. I’m genuinely curious why you hated on her. It’s probably a great story. I’m not a ufc fan anymore personally because I think it’s gotten too corny. But this woman is a top notch competitor with skill who plows them down. For me personally I find it incredibly entertaining and touching. I was like bump it mami. Let’s go get some soft and wet. But she even represented her lady. Absolutely unbelievable. I’m tuning into her next fight. She’s won me over. The ufc has something special.
I’ve lost respect for the ufc but we don’t need to get into that. This woman right here checks all the boxes and can draw fans from a wide range of perspectives, feelings, nationalities, orientations,.... it’s really unbelievable. What a woman. I’m genuinely curious why you hated on her, and I ask with a smile. Because I’ve been there and that breaking moment is special.
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I bolded that one bit because that's 100% where I got right at the Cyborg win (crazy late). But before that, I definitely have to cop to being a hater and it starts with a bad first impression then it gets personal because she kept beating my favorite girls
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First time I saw Nunes fight was against Zingano in a classic. Nunes came in with some hype, dropped Zingano early but gassed and got bullied in a way that put really clear doubts in my head. I didn't trust her cardio and then I also didn't trust her against a grappler that could weather the punching power. The cardio issue showed up again a couple of fights later against Shevchenko (razor thin decision win for Nunes) and then her only grappling threats were terrible strikers that she could KO fast (Tate and Rousey). So I kept the rationale that she hadn't proven her cardio and would eventually get into a grappling fight where her cardio fails her.
2 mistakes there. One, she became a smarter fighter at conserving her energy and just improved her cardio overall. She had enough in the tank to go five rounds with Shevchenko in the rematch where she gassed in 2 during the first fight imo. Then on the grappler tip; I was taking away points for the fact that Nunes dropped grapplers that faced her so quickly because I assumed someone with a chin would take the strikes and grab her...WAY off base. You might already have thought it when I typed that out; but Nunes didn't just starch Rousey and Tate. She's knocked out great strikers and dropped the toughest chins in the division too. So it's not a matter of some grappler just weathering a storm any more; the storm's not stopping until the bell. I think I missed that because I'm a huge Shevchenko and Tate fan. I still think Shevchenko deserved at least one of the two fights with Nunes (first one), but frustration with the decision made me sleep on the fact that nobody else has even gotten comfortable fighting Valentina while Nunes now has two decision wins over the woman. Then Tate, after her big journey to win the belt against the odds, was such a feel good story that Nunes obliterated. It was Jordan personal for a while off that one.
Anyway, that's a lot to say this though; the Nunes you see today is someone who has been developing and improving since the first fight I saw her in the octagon. She was Kevin Knox with all the tools to be great but a questionable motor and needing time to get the comfort/IQ that comes with reps. I hung on to the early version of Nunes and completely slept on how much she was improving the whole time and it wasn't until Amanda crushed the GOAT female fighter that I finally stepped back and could really appreciate that progression.
Not only that either; we got to see her personal growth too. She came out of her shell more and more; she's speaking English more comfortably which is great for promotion stateside; and seeing her more often really puts her character into a good light. She looks like a damned BULLY in that octagon but outside of the cage, that energy is obviously enthusiasm and she's also definitely been comfortable highlighting her relationship and how important it's been with her own growth. She seems really admirable and now I'm just pissed the UFC failed to market her sooner.
Also, co-sign losing respect for the UFC. 2018 was especially bad for them imo and I'm hoping some of the other promotions start to become viable alternatives so that fighters have better options. Amanda Nunes and fighters like her, that we get to take the ride with from early on and watch grow, they're the reason this sport is what it is. I hate that the UFC seems to have lost sight in that.
