UFC female bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes released a statement on Sunday, explaining her recent withdrawal from UFC 213.
Nunes (14-4) was supposed to headline Saturday's pay-per-view event against Valentina Shevchenko in Las Vegas, but she withdrew at the last minute, citing medical reasons.
UFC president Dana White told ESPN that Nunes opted to pull out despite being cleared to fight by physicians on Friday and Saturday.
Nunes, 29, explained her side of the story in a social media post Sunday.
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) July 9, 2017
"I have chronic sinusitis," Nunes wrote on Twitter. "I have fought with it before but this time it didn't work out, during the weight cut I was unable to breathe and felt off balance from the pressure in my sinuses.
"I was not feeling well enough to risk getting punched in the head with such pressure. I was taken to the hospital after weigh-ins and they only checked my blood and dehydration so cleared me based on that. The next day I went back and they did a CT scan and found a buildup and I was prescribed antibiotics and referred to a specialist."
Shevchenko (14-2) was also pulled from UFC 213, shortly after Nunes' withdrawal. In a statement on Saturday, Shevchenko accused Nunes of trying to improperly cut weight, which led to her removal.
White said he plans to rebook the 135-pound title fight to a UFC 215 event, scheduled for Sept. 9 in Edmonton, Alberta. He added that he would not trust Nunes to headline, though.
"I won't main event that title again," White said.
Nunes, who trains out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, apologized to her fans for missing the scheduled bout.
"I have never pulled out of a fight before," Nunes wrote. "I am sorry to all my fans that came out to see me, I'll make it up to you the next time I step in the cage. The fight is being rescheduled. I still want this fight. I still want this opponent."
