Author: Harvey Leonard

UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña seemingly appreciated Kayla Harrison’s presence in Salt Lake City earlier this month.

Peña returned to the 135-pound mountaintop in the co-main event of the UFC 307 pay-per-view on Oct. 5, narrowly outpointing Raquel Pennington in what marked a widely debated results.

Harrison, meanwhile, staked her claim for a shot against the winner earlier in the night when she got the better of Ketlen Vieira to move to 2-0 under the UFC banner.

While the champ has attempted to set her sights on the retired Amanda Nunes instead, all signs point toward Harrison getting her first title shot in 2025. And given how the pair exchanged words at the UFC 307 press conference, the lead-up could be entertaining.

“The Venezuelan Vixen” has had plenty of negative things to say about the two-time Olympic gold medalist since her arrival to the promotion and in the aftermath of UFC 307. She did, however, have a rare compliment for her related to the presser during an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned.

When discussing the heated build-up that many are expecting to her likely defense opposite Harrison, Peña admitted that having a willing dance partner in the trash-talking realm makes for a nice change of pace.

“It is so refreshing to finally have someone that can string a sentence together, and that speaks the language, and that understands the game of frickin’ — we are fist-fighting in a steel cage and it’s important for people to be interested in it,” Peña said. “Like I said, block of wood Raquel, the only reason she started talking crap out of nowhere is because she’s realizing that’s what you need to do to gain interest in the fight.

“You’re right, it is great to finally have somebody who is going to banter back and forth with me,” Peña continued. “Now all of these girls are starting to understand what you need to do. It’s like, they’re taking a page out of my book to do it, and that’s great. Finally, somebody who is going to play ball.”

It remains to be seen when the pair can throw verbal jibes at one another face-to-face ahead of their own fight, but the UFC 307 presser certainly provided a nice appetizer.

For now, both women will be recovering from their outings in Utah. While Harrison appears willing to return to camp soon, Peña has pointed to International Fight Week in mid-2025 as a possible return date for her reign’s opening defense.

• Read More: Kayla Harrison On UFC 307 Setting Up Peña Fight: ‘Now I Have To Listen To Her Talk’

UFC women’s bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison is not looking forward to getting an earful from champion Julianna Peña in the lead-up to their expected showdown.

Harrison and Peña both had their hands raised at the UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City, Utah earlier this month, seemingly setting up a long-discussed clash between the pair in 2025.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist was the first to emerge victorious, outpointing Ketlen Vieira on the main card to move to 2-0 under the UFC banner. “The Venezuelan Vixen” later made the walk for the co-main event, in which she dethroned Raquel Pennington to win back the 135-pound title.

Although Peña has attempted to draw Amanda Nunes back from retirement to complete their trilogy next, Harrison is no doubt the consensus number one contender and appears likely to compete with gold on the line in her third UFC fight.

While that is no doubt music to the two-time PFL champ’s ears, she outlined during an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned that not everything about gearing up to challenge for the belt is positive…

Harrison — who went back and forth with the newly crowned bantamweight queen during the pre-fight press conference for UFC 307 — shared a sentiment common among Peña’s opponents when it comes to the verbal sparring she’s anticipating.

“I just don’t care. I mean, it’s going to be more exciting and more fun to whoop her ass,” Harrison said when asked if she was happy that Peña won. “But she’s also like — dude, now I have to listen to her talk.”

It remains to be seen when Harrison will get her shot at adding UFC title glory to an already illustrious résumé in combat sports.

While the Ohio native — who has dubbed herself the “uncrowned queen” in the 135-pound division — says she’ll soon be ready to go, the champ recently pointed to International Fight Week in the summer of 2025 as her desired return date.

• Read More: Larissa Pacheco Sticks Up For Kayla Harrison After PFL’s ‘Uncalled For’ Fight-Day Dig