Las Vegas, NV — Women’s featherweight title challenger Megan Anderson believes she holds at least one advantage over double champ Amanda Nunes.
The pair face off in the co-main event of UFC 259 this Saturday, and as Anderson (11-4), a former Invicta FC champ, put it during Thursday’s pre-fight press conference, “I feel like I’m the true first featherweight that she’s fought that brings a lot of power.”
Of course, Nunes once faced the formidable Cris Cyborg, knocking her fellow Brazilian out to claim the women’s featherweight title. But her last 145lb title defense came against a more compact wrestler in Felicia Spencer.
“I know Felicia’s a featherweight, but I think styles make fights,” said Anderson. “I have a lot of power that I bring to the table that I don’t think she’s seen in a very long time.”
Asked whether she had identified any holes in the champ’s game, the 31-year old from Australia added that “I think everyone has holes in their game. I think you just have to find them. We’ve looked at the tape, we’ve got a game plan, and we’re ready to capitalize on those moments when we see them.”
When Anderson first entered the UFC in 2018, her career got going in fits and starts. She was envisioned as a challenger to then-champ Cyborg, but the fight never materialized. After setbacks against Holly Holm and Felicia Spencer, she’s finally in the long-awaited title shot Saturday.
“It’s been a long ride to get here, but I’m glad that I finally got here. I grew a lot as a person, as a martial artist, getting to this point,” said Anderson. “I’m just ready to put on a show.”
And as far as Nunes’ recent, dominant run, “everyone’s invincible until they’re not.”
One question circling the featherweight title fight Saturday is the future of the division. If you can call it a division — at the moment, it appears to have just four fighters, including champ and challenger. “It’s kind of hard to not think about that, obviously,” Anderson admitted. “But at the end of the day, I can’t control what’s done with the division. All I can control is me and putting on great performances. Dana and the UFC are going to do what they want to do. My job is to turn up, show up, knockout, win. That’s all I can focus on. If I focus on anything else, I take away from my sole priority, and that’s winning.”
Megan Anderson challenges Amanda Nunes for featherweight gold at UFC 259 on Saturday, March 6 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
