UFC contender Ailin Perez makes a bold callout.
Ailin Perez is no stranger to making bold callouts, but this might be her biggest one yet.
The brash UFC women’s bantamweight contender wants to welcome back former two-division UFC champion Amanda Nunes to the promotion now that Nunes recently revealed that she’s all in for a return to competition. Despite being a former champion and considered the greatest female MMA fighter of all time, Perez doesn’t think Nunes deserves an immediate title shot upon returning, which is why she wants to offer her services to the UFC.
“Amanda Nunes came back to fight me. In fact, I don’t think she deserves to fight for the title,” Perez told Hablemos MMA in Spanish. “Yeah, she’s got a pending trilogy fight with Julianna Peña, but she’s been out for a while and a lot has happened in the division. I popped up and entered the rankings, and I have been vocal about wanting a title fight, and others as well who also don’t deserve the title.
“So, I’m willing to fight Amanda Nunes. First, because I know I can beat her. Second, because it’s my moment, and I won’t let her get the title fight that easy. I know she was champion and all that, but Ailin Perez has a lot of career and fan momentum, and a big name. I’m going to ask the UFC for the fight because nobody wants the tough fights, but I do because I consider myself one of the best.”
Perez has won five in a row since losing her UFC debut in 2022. She last fought in January when she outpointed veteran contender Karol Rosa at UFC 311. Perez had shoulder surgery on Feb. 7 and is expected to be fully fit to fight in September or October.
Should Nunes return, it’s expected she will take on the winner of the UFC women’s bantamweight title fight at UFC 316 on June 7 between Julianna Peña and Kayla Harrison. Should that happen, Perez expects Harrison to beat Peña and Nunes to beat Harrison. Still, Perez hopes Nunes’ comeback starts with her.
“Of course, Amanda Nunes can beat Kayla Harrison,” Perez said. “Amanda Nunes can beat anyone but Ailin Perez, and the fans need to see that. They are the ones who will enjoy it, and I can already envision it. She can be the greatest of all time, and I’ll say it: she’s the greatest of all time – but that’s why I want to fight her. She’s a legend. Holly Holm ran from me, Miesha Tate ran from me, Norma Dumont ran from me, they’re all running from me. So, if she wants to be the champion, Amanda Nunes vs. Ailin Perez. Brazil vs. Argentina.”
