Amanda Nunes Pulls Out of Featherweight Title Defense at UFC 256

Two-division champion Amanda Nunes has pulled out of her scheduled featherweight title defense at UFC 256 for undisclosed reasons, according to ESPN.

Nunes vs. Anderson was supposed to headline the UFC 256 card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Dec. 12. According to Anderson, the promotion is working to reschedule the bout, though UFC officials have not officially announced the cancellation of the title fight. It is currently unclear if UFC 256 will get a new headliner. The card also features a bantamweight championship clash between Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling.

Wishing Amanda a speedy recovery UFC are rescheduling the bout for a date early next year.

The goal remains the same We'll be ready.. https://t.co/APZt4zUkS0

— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) November 9, 2020

"All I was told was she has a 'serious medical issue' and that they're working on rescheduling the bout currently," Anderson said in a statement released to ESPN. "Obviously, it sucks because we've been working so hard for this, but I hope she has a speedy recovery and the goal remains the same. Nothing has ever come easy for me. This is just another part of the journey and we'll be ready for whatever date they set. Our time is coming one way or another."

Nunes, who is regarded as the top pound-for-pound fighter in women’s MMA, is coming off a unanimous decision triumph against Felicia Spencer in a 145-pound belt defense at UFC 250 on June 6. Prior to that, “Lioness” defeated Germaine de Randamie via five-round verdict in a bantamweight title bout at UFC 245 in December 2019.

A former Invicta FC title holder, Anderson has scored back-to-back first-round finishes of Zara Fairn dos Santos and Norma Dumont Viana in her last two Octagon appearances. The 30-year-old Aussie is 3-2 in UFC competition, with losses to Spencer and Holly Holm.