Brazilian mixed martial artist Amanda Nunes is regarded as one of the best female competitors in MMA history. Nunes, who fights in the UFC  currently holds belts in both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. She rose swiftly through the ranks after making her professional debut in 2008, owing to her strong striking and submission abilities. However, it was when Nunes defeated Miesha Tate to win the UFC women’s bantamweight title that she had her rise to fame. To further cement her legacy, she went on to defeat notable competitors like Ronda Rousey, Valentina Shevchenko, and Holly Holm. Having defeated Cris Cyborg in 2018, Nunes became the first woman in UFC history to simultaneously hold belts in two weight divisions.

Meanwhile, an NBA legend joined Amanda Nunes in celebrating her latest announcement.

Amanda Nunes makes a surprising announcement after her latest victory

In a shocking move, the 35-year-old mixed martial artist Amanda Nunes concluded her UFC career as a champion after successfully defending her bantamweight title against Irene Aldana at UFC 289. After the bout, Nunes shocked everyone by declaring her retirement from the sport. By winning 14 of her last 15 fights and avenging her only loss during that time, Nunes has proven herself to be an unstoppable force in the MMA world. Nunes leaves an imprint as one of the best female fighters in UFC history, holding three belts concurrently, despite some reservations about her competitiveness.

Meanwhile, following 24 hours after his “disrespect” rant, an NBA icon reacted to the news.

Dwight Howard wrote, “Congrats @Amanda_Leoa the greatest ever. Amazing Career.”

Dwight Howard dominated the NBA for almost two decades. Unfortunately, Howard did not have a contract with the NBA following his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021–2022. This is despite the fact that he averaged 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds.

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However, Dwight Howard recently decided to leave the United States and join the Taiwanese League. This decision was initially exciting for him. However, his time with the Taoyuan Leopards quickly turned into an unpleasant experience. He was forced to accept a large wage cut. Howard felt devalued and unsatisfied because the proposed contract from the Leopards was worth 65% less than his prior agreement. Regardless of the league he plays in, Howard feels that as an eight-time NBA All-Star, he deserves greater respect and appreciation for his skills.

He voiced out his frustration, “I felt like that was very disrespectful. I brought value to the team.“

He continued, “I was very disappointed. I felt like I deserved more.”

However, he didn’t stop back from celebrating Nunes’ achievement with fans worldwide

Fans react to her retirement

As her retirement was a move that no one saw as coming, many were surprised. They took to Twitter to share how they felt about the news.

A fan commented, “End on top of the world a legend”

Other reactions include:

The lioness has left an indelible mark on the sport. Her legacy will live on.

Lets hope she gets her well-deserved rest now.

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