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Fans of the UFC know the name Amanda Nunes well. She’s simply one of the most dominant fighters in the history of the organization, and her trading cards are getting more popular now that she’s formally retired from battles in the octagon. Now that we can see her whole impressive career in the rear view mirror, it’s time to assess the best cards to collect to tell her story.
The feisty Brazilian bantamweight actually bridged into the featherweight division, too, making her one of the most successful fighters in the UFC’s history. Throughout her career, she’s defied expectations with her furious skills, defended her titles against the biggest names in the industry, and broken down barriers for female fighters everywhere. Nunes is called “The Lioness” for her intense fighting style and ferocious demeanor, but another term is getting bandied around now, too - “The GOAT (Greatest of All Time)” for female fighters in the UFC.
While both Topps and Panini have produced Amanda Nunes cards en masse over the years, we’ve collected 11 of the best of them that show off her storied history in the octagon from her debut back in 2013 through to her unexpected retirement earlier in 2023. Nunes always brought her best, and you can see it in the compelling cards below.
Ready to check out the best Amanda Nunes trading cards around? Let’s do it!
11 Smashingly Good Amanda Nunes UFC Cards
This assortment of Amanda Nunes trading cards may not be the most valuable or the rarest that feature the mighty Lioness, but they are the best to tell the story of this exceptional athlete throughout her career in professional MMA.
1. 2013 Topps UFC Bloodlines Amanda Nunes #63 - The Rookie Card
While Amanda Nunes didn’t debut in the UFC until 2013, she was already an experienced fighter with deep experience in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing. She came from a fighting family with roots in both of the sports she’s based her fighting style on. She literally lived at the gym where she trained and was known for defeating opponents both male and female. The gym’s logo was a lion and that’s where she got the nickname 'The Lioness,’ which she embraced throughout her career.
Amanda Nunes' first card, the 2013 Topps UFC Bloodlines Amanda Nunes #63, marked the beginning of her journey in the octagon. Like most rookie cards, it’s thrilling to see the potential of a great athlete in their early days, especially as we can now view her long career of success. The image captures a jubilant young Nunes, full of promise and potential, ready to conquer the world of MMA, sporting an MMA Masters shirt that was so often part of her look. Considering she had spent a couple of years with MMA Masters and other fighting organizations before the UFC, it’s no surprise that she started to dominate the octagon quickly.
Like so many rookie cards, this is also one of her most valuable cards even though it lacks relics, autographs, or other premium options. PSA 10 Gem Mint copies of Nunes’ rookie Topps card have been selling for thousands of dollars on the secondary market.
2. 2014 Topps UFC Knockout Autographed Amanda Nunes #93 - First Autographed Card
This stunning card was advertised as the first autographed Nunes card to be released and Topps kept it limited to just 149 copies. Investors and collectors often consider autographed cards more valuable and will get the card graded for both the quality of the card and the authenticity of the autograph to ensure it is the work of The Lioness herself.
The 2014 Topps UFC Knockout Autographed Amanda Nunes #93 card, which shows a determined and serious Nunes under her hoodie looking like she’s about to punch somebody in the head, is certainly no exception since it’s been fetching up to $4,000 for BGS Authentic graded copies of the card. This certainly wasn’t the last autographed card from Nunes, but since it is from so early in her career, it’s a good investment and a card that received a lot of attention. This will likely be one of the more valuable Amanda Nunes cards as collectors and investors look to add key cards to their collections.
3. 2015 Topps UFC Chronicles Amanda Nunes #205 - The First Parallels Card
While classic bubblegum card collectors of old would never imagine it, modern trading card collectors are now used to lots of parallels and variants of popular cards. For Amanda Nunes, her first major base card with lots of parallels came at a pivotal moment in Nunes' career: the 2015 Topps UFC Chronicles Amanda Nunes #205. As she was ascending in popularity and power two years in, Topps Chronicles released this triumphant shot of Nunes in a few limited edition sets. Still showing off her loyalty to MMA Masters, she sports yet another top representing her old team for a key trading card.
The base card is in color with a gray border, but a number of limited edition parallels accompanied its release. There’s a Red version with only 8 copies, a Gold version of 88 copies, a Green with 288, etc. There is even a black and white photo version limited to 188 copies that has gotten the attention of fans who appreciate the classic look of the image in grayscale. Any one of the cards are a great addition to a UFC collection, but the options give you plenty of choices about what looks best. Some collectors always stick with certain colors that are popular in use for both Topps and Panini parallels, adding yet another aspect of interest to the hobby.
While most of these parallels are still available for reasonable prices, it’s an essential piece from her early career that should be included in any Nunes set. For details on the parallels, their price ranges based on the grade, and more details, check out the card’s overview page on Cardbase.
4. 2016 Topps UFC High Impact Autographs Amanda Nunes #HA-AN - The Champion Card
The 2016 Topps UFC High Impact Autographs Amanda Nunes #HA-AN Card immortalized the year Amanda Nunes finally tasted UFC gold, making it a desirable and valuable addition to any collection. Amanda Nunes had to fight hard to earn her first title shot in the UFC. After powering through an impressive three-fight win streak, Nunes got her chance to compete for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship on July 9, 2016. Her opponent was the indomitable Miesha Tate, a veteran fighter with an impressive record who had just wrestled the belt from Holly Holm the previous year.
Despite taking on the title champion, Nunes entered the octagon with confidence and immediately stunned Tate with a flurry of knees and punches. Tate tried to fight back, but Nunes was relentless, eventually taking her down and securing a rear-naked choke submission in the first round just three minutes in. The Lioness had arrived.
With that victory, Nunes made history as the first openly gay UFC champion, cementing her place in the sport's history and inspiring countless fans around the world. This autographed 2016 card is an ideal way to commemorate Nunes' historic win and it remains surprisingly affordable if you can find one on sale.
5. 2017 Topps UFC Fire Amanda Nunes #41 - The Iconic Card
If the previous Topps cards on this list looked fine but perhaps less daring from a design perspective, the 2017 Topps UFC Fire card and its variants should make up for that. With compelling visual composition and an iconic image from Nunes, the UFC Fire card is a feast for the eyes. Even the font choices and logo use are just so much better than past cards. Nunes had never looked more fierce.
When your base card looks this good, the limited parallels can truly take it up a notch. Layering in a crimson layer on the Red Hot variant looks amazing. The Pulsar Silver variant shimmers like the data-lines of The Matrix films, and the autograph cards are utterly gorgeous.
For this series, Nunes changed over and started to sign her cards with her nickname, “The Lioness,” although she would switch back and forth over the years following. The quaking design embodies Nunes' fiery spirit and unparalleled fighting style beautifully, making this a must-have for UFC fans and MMA collectors.
6. 2018 Topps UFC Chrome Superfractor Amanda Nunes 1/1 #20 - The Superfractor Card
Amanda Nunes' 2018 Topps UFC Chrome card presents perhaps the boldest and most threatening image of “The Lioness” we’ve seen so far. With a sleek design to match this compelling image, it’s a perfect card to celebrate that phase of Nunes’ career when she was enjoying three years as an undefeated bantamweight champion. The triumphant smile we saw on some early Nunes cards is refashioned here into a dangerous grin. If you ever wondered how she got her nickname, just take a look at this exceptional photo. Within the next year, she claimed the Featherweight title as well, becoming the first woman to hold two division belts simultaneously.
While this UFC Chrome card was released in various limited edition forms, none of them dazzle as much as this Superfractor, with its multi-patterned background and its 1 of 1 stamp showing that if you buy this copy, you will indeed be the only collector in the world with this card. The card was rated a perfect PSA 10 Gem Mint and sold in April 2023 for $1,380 just a month before Nunes announced her retirement due to an excess of injuries. Watch for this card because the next time it comes on the market, you can expect a bidding war.
7. 2019 Topps UFC Knockout Jumbo Fight Mat Relics Purple Amanda Nunes /25 - The Relic Card
While it seems like Panini is more famous for their relic cards, the Topps UFC cards were sporting them, too, in 2019. This 2019 Knockout series card features a section of an octagon mat alongside a pretty standard image of Nunes looking tough. While many collectors and investors enjoy relic cards, the nature of their production means they are usually pretty limited in number.
This is no exception, as the card was only printed in a run of 25 copies. This drives up the value and desirability of the card, but these relic cards are not too expensive considering their scarcity. A worthy addition to any UFC or Amanda Nunes collection, the visual design of the card is entirely digital but it is well done. Limited edition Amanda Nunes cards like these are likely to increase in value, so now might be the right time to snap them up.
8. 2020 Topps UFC Knockout Autographs #KA-AN Amanda Nunes /99 - The Best Action Shot Card
In early 2021, the announcement came that the UFC had signed a deal with Panini to take over the production of UFC cards. Before that happened, Topps gave us one more exceptional Amanda Nunes card: the 2020 Topps UFC Knockout Autographs #KA-AN Amanda Nunes /99. This still image from a key moment of The Lioness defending her title shows the ferocity of her attacks. With a swift, sudden kick, she took down former champion Holly Holm and kept her belt. The legend of the Lioness just got stronger with this command performance. What an amazing card!
Add an autograph to this already compelling card and you have a true gem that would delight any UFC collector. There were a flurry of other final-year releases from Topps for Amanda Nunes, but this is the one that will stand the test of time for expertly capturing the exceptional attack that won the day for Nunes.
9. 2021 Panini Prizm UFC Gold Prizms Amanda Nunes #66 - The First Year with Panini
Panini wasted no time in printing a host of great-looking trading cards featuring Amanda Nunes in 2021. While there are many action shots and standard portraits, this 2021 Panini Prizm UFC Gold Prizms Amanda Nunes #66 card is like a quintessential Panini Prizm card with its gold border, the photo busting out of the frame, and what is clearly an in-action shot.
Capturing a ferocious Nunes back with a dangerous grin and fists ready to pound down her opponent, the card is a great argument for the UFC moving to Panini, who get modern design and powerful imagery into just about every card. Nunes herself had an uneven year in 2021, with a successful defense of her title early in the year, but an unexpected loss that summer. While the rest of her cards that year have a lot to like about them, this classic image best encapsulates the champion entering the final phase of her career.
10. 2022 Panini UFC Prizm Color Blast Amanda Nunes #7 - The Color Blast Card
Panini’s 'Color Blast' series is one of the most compelling in the hobby. The concept is simple yet captivating: Select a dynamite action shot of a top-tier athlete and set it against a backdrop splattered with vibrant hues. The result? Some of the most visually appealing and artistically striking cards ever.
For me, it doesn’t get any better than this 2022 Panini UFC Prizm Color Blast Amanda Nunes #7 card. The visual focus is on Nunes herself, captured in a powerful moment with arms flung wide open. The raw emotion on her face, especially that fiery, upward gaze, gives off the vibe of a fighter ready to take on the entire world. Her intense demeanor screams determination, making the observer almost hear her internal battle cry. Panini did have a few other Color Blast cards with Nunes from 2021. However, there's something inherently special about this 2022 edition. It encapsulates her spirit and fierce nature in a way none of its predecessors did.
The cherry on top? Unlike many collectibles that are restricted by limited prints, this Nunes card doesn't come with that limitation. This means that Amanda Nunes aficionados can still get their hands on this masterpiece without the fear of it running out too soon, although we are likely to see a surge in pricing this year with her retirement having been announced last Spring.
11. 2023 Panini UFC 289 Nunes Retires as Champion Amanda Nunes #52 1/1 - The Retirement Card
This 2023 Panini Instant card is the perfect capstone to Amanda Nunes’ exceptional career. The Instant series is designed to capture a moment in time and, in this case, the card is dated June 10th, 2023 when The Lioness, the double-champ who held both bantamweight and featherweight titles simultaneously, the woman who became the UFC’s first gay champion, finally called it quits due to an excess of injuries.
Thankfully, she retired to enjoy time with her wife, also an MMA fighter, to raise their young child. While this card isn’t as flashy as some of the other Panini Prizm cards also produced to celebrate Nunes’ many accomplishments, it’s an emotional moment to see her on the mat of the octagon with her two belts, realizing the enormity of that moment.
While this image is of the 1 of 1 copy of the card, Panini has also produced an unlimited print of the card, too, allowing all Amanda Nunes fans to add this important card to their collection.
The Legacy of Amanda Nunes
Amanda Nunes is a UFC legend. Her ascension to the dual titles of bantamweight and featherweight divisions broke barriers and wrote her name in the annals of the sport. Nunes' journey, marked by her unparalleled talent and tenacity, is full of powerful victories over some of the toughest fighters to ever enter the octagon. And it wasn't just her professional career that made waves - she also became a beacon for countless fans when she made history as the first openly gay UFC champion in 2016.
Although the roar of the Lioness was quieted prematurely due to injuries, her formidable spirit endures, inspiring future fighters and leaving an indelible impact on the sport. Nunes now enjoys life beyond the octagon, raising her child with her wife, fellow UFC fighter Nina Ansaroff, and committing to mentor the next wave of MMA talent.
As we conclude this 11-card homage to Amanda Nunes' career, whether you're a long-term supporter or a recent convert to her powerful narrative, we trust you've discovered a card or two to elevate your collection.
Remember, Amanda Nunes is more than a collection of impressive victories - she's a barrier-breaking, record-setting, once-in-a-lifetime athlete whose legacy will continue to inspire women in the sport and beyond.
