Nunes sets sights on Rousey, open to Pena fight

Amanda Nunes ran through Miesha Tate at UFC 200 to become the women's bantamweight champion and she wants to keep chugging along.

Next on her list? None other than Ronda Rousey.

At a fan Q&A on Friday in Atlanta, "The Lioness" didn't hesitate when asked who she wanted her first defense to be against.

"Ronda Rousey, but there are a couple of girls in line right now, Julianna Pena, Valentina Shevchenko," said Nunes. "If Ronda Rousey is not coming back, I'll take Julianna Pena. It's no problem."

Rousey has been out of action since losing the bantamweight title to Holly Holm last November. She's given no indication of when she plans to fight again.

The division has been shaken up in her absence, with names like Shevchenko and Pena kicking down the door to the upper echelon that was once locked down by Rousey, Holm, and Tate.

Pena is undefeated in four UFC fights with a convincing win over one-time title challenger Cat Zingano under her belt, while Shevchenko topped Holm at UFC on FOX 20 this past Saturday.

But those two will have to wait if Nunes gets her wish and books Rousey. In addition to it being the highest-profile matchup for Nunes, the champ is confident she can beat Rousey and silence any who doubt her reign.

"I've been training jiu-jitsu since I started, jiu-jitsu and judo both together," said Nunes. "I know how to block the judo throws, I know how to use my hips very well, that's why I know if Ronda Rousey is coming back I'm going to keep the championship.

"I'm going to beat Ronda Rousey and then wait for the next one. I'll wait for her to prove to everybody one more time that I deserve to be here."