Nunes: Pena loss 'was very good for me'

Amanda Nunes was able to take away some positives from her shocking loss to Julianna Pena.

The UFC women's featherweight champion, who dropped the bantamweight title to Pena last December, said she was somewhat relieved after her five-year reign ended.

"Everything about that fight was very good for me," Nunes said during an appearance on UFC analyst Laura Sanko's "One On One" show. "Of course, I lost my belt. I don't want to lose my belt. But it kind of took the pressure a little bit (off) me, too.

"For so long, I had the belt with me, and (I was) preparing for big fights. It's a lot. Years and years. Everything was happening in my life so fast. I became this, I became that - it's a lot to carry yourself as."

Nunes, who's scheduled to rematch Pena for the 135-pound title at UFC 277 on July 30, was widely regarded as one of the best and most dominant fighters in the world at the time of the first Pena fight. She defended the bantamweight belt five times, recorded two defenses at featherweight, and hadn't lost since 2014.

"The Lioness" pointed to her dominance as a reason why she lost her edge - at least temporarily.

"I was cleaning the division, as well. Nobody was there anymore," Nunes said. "So, of course, it's natural (that) you'll slow down a little bit."

As her title reign grew more dominant, Nunes said she started to enjoy other aspects of her life. She traveled more often and focused less on training.

But as she prepares to face Pena for a second time, Nunes said she is leaving no stones unturned.

"That fight kind of brought that fire back," Nunes said of her loss to Pena. "After the fight, everything was like, 'You know what? I cannot leave my belt. I cannot go away (and travel) like that.' That fight, I pretty much wasted. I have to get 100%.

"If she beats me (at) 100%, then OK," Nunes continued. "But my last fight, I wasn't."