Most of the discussion surrounding the much-maligned UFC Vegas 107 card will center on the dramatic last-minute cancellation of the Erin Blanchfield-Maycee Barber headliner. There was, however, another women’s fight earlier on the main card that had serious implications for the title picture.

Ketlen Vieira entered her bout with Macy Chiasson looking to remain a top-3 contender at women’s bantamweight and strengthen her case for a title shot. The circumstances surrounding it, however, were less than favorable. After struggling with her weight cut, she had requested that it be bumped up a division above, costing her 25% of her fight purse. Then, she won by unanimous decision in a rather dull way – by pinning her opponent first against the cage, then onto the mat twice.

Such a rather uninspiring performance may have earned Amanda Nunes a title shot, should she officially decide to unretire after almost two years. Will the UFC want it to happen, though? More accurately, does it need to happen?

Not A Draw – Until She Is

Before mid-2016, the UFC women’s bantamweight division had been dominated by three big names.

First and foremost, there was Ronda Rousey – the mainstream darling who appeared in movies, TV shows, commercials, and even wrestling events. After her came Holly Holm, the former boxing legend who gained eternal fame with the “head kick heard around the world.” Finally, there was Mieshe Tate, whose title-winning submission against Holm stands as one of the greatest single-fight comebacks in MMA history.

All three, although each looked different, shared a common trait: they were American, making it easy for the average fan to understand what they said. Then came Nunes.

“The Lioness” was unlike her predecessors; she was well-rounded, which instantly made her a compelling figure in a division largely comprised of specialists. Unfortunately for her, she also had two aspects that made her a “turn-off” to most.

First, Nunes was a Brazilian with apparently little to no charisma. This is not to say that Brazilians could not become draws, however. Anderson Silva was one during his career, but he did so by crafting a charm that only he could confidently brandish. When Nunes spoke, however, people could not look past her accent. It was purportedly like listening to someone from another world.

Second, Nunes was an open lesbian, a fact that became more prominent after she won the title. That could have made her a breakout star in a hitherto-untapped demographic, but alas, the UFC, even today, is still driven by machismo that encourages objectification.

That combination of factors led to some of the lowest buy rates in UFC history, even as Nunes established her legacy as the best female fighter of all time. Ironically, however, said legacy may actually make her one of MMA’s biggest draws now, given who has held the title since her retirement.

Raquel Pennington may be a good person, but she is at best a middling fighter and somewhat of a bore. Julianna Peña is one of the few people in her division who actively promotes herself, but she also carries a sizable “hatedom.”

And speaking of Peña, at UFC 316 next week, she faces quite possibly one of the most highly sought-after fighters in promotional history: Kayla Harrison. The former Olympic gold medalist in judo first established her reputation as the PFL’s all-conquering queen before joining the UFC and quickly became the top contender. And she has history with Nunes – both were once stablemates at American Top Team.

No matter who wins, Nunes will be walking into a very sellable fight when she returns. She is 1-1 against Peña, though she maintains that her first loss was a fluke, shrouded in unfortunate circumstances. And with Harrison, she will be the former alpha looking to reclaim the throne against the current alpha.

What If Nunes Does Not Return?

With all that said, what if Nunes decides to stay retired even after UFC 316? Is women’s bantamweight doomed to fade into obscurity?

There is a strong chance that it does, but all is not lost as of this moment. There are still intriguing faces within.

For instance, Norma Dumont made herself a name to watch in 2024 with clear-cut wins over Germaine de Randamie and Irene Aldana. Ailin Perez is on a five-win streak and has also tried to market herself as what can only be generously called a “twerking mom”. And outside the Top 10, Jacqueline Cavalcanti has quietly become the division’s most intriguing prospect, currently on a seven-fight winning streak.

If there is one name to watch out for who is still not on the roster, however, it is Bella Mir. The daughter of former heavyweight champion Frank Mir is technically under UFC contract, having signed an NIL deal back in 2023. While she is currently busy with collegiate wrestling, she has also remained undefeated in three professional MMA fights, dominating in all of them.

WWE has been known to have a fascination with second-generation stars like Randy Orton, Charlotte Flair, Cody Rhodes, and, most recently, Bron Breakker. Provided that everything goes right for her, Mir could become the UFC’s first archetype of that.

End Of My Amanda Nunes Rant

Right now, the UFC needs draws. Fans are growing weary of the seeming diminution of the quality of fights being booked. Both sides need compelling fights to promote and watch, and Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison is one of them.

It is not enough, however. The winner needs a foil, and Amanda Nunes, despite being denigrated in the past, is ironically the only person who can fill the bill now.

At the same time, Dana White and the matchmakers must also give the next batch of prospects prime opportunities to assert themselves before the audience. Otherwise, those women, and their division, may go as their predecessors did – largely forgotten.