MMA News

Tag: Julianna Pena

  • “We’re Not Done Yet” – Kayla Harrison’s Dream Realized, But Is This Just the Beginning?

    “We’re Not Done Yet” – Kayla Harrison’s Dream Realized, But Is This Just the Beginning?

    Kayla Harrison may have climbed to the top of the mountain, but she plans on going even higher.

    The two-time Olympic gold medalist delivered one of the most dominant performances of her mixed martial arts career at UFC 316, handily defeating Julianna Pena via a second-round submission to claim the women’s bantamweight championship.

    It’s a goal that Harrison has been dreaming of since day one. But now the question is, what comes next?

    “I was ready right then! I want to fight for the title,” Harrison told MMA Junkie while attending the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony in Las Vegas last month. “I want this, that, and the other… all in God’s time, God’s plan. But I think when you visualize something and you have a dream from the first day I started MMA, this was the dream. And so once it happened, I was like, ‘Oh, wait. We’re done? Like, we did it, but we’re not done yet.’”

    As they say, a champion only becomes a champion once they’ve defended their title.

    Kayla Harrison Tells Amanda Nunes to ‘Send Location’

    Harrison has not yet booked a date for her first defense, but it’s safe to say that the woman standing across from her inside the Octagon will be none other than former champ-champ Amanda Nunes. ‘The Lioness’ stepped inside the Octagon immediately following Harrison’s win at UFC 316, going face-to-face with the new bantamweight queen and setting the stage for one of the biggest fights in MMA history, regardless of gender.

    “Obviously, Amanda’s next,” Harrison said. “We spoke to her at the Hall of Fame yesterday. She says Q4. But she’s not in the drug testing pool yet, so she might not be able to fight till Q1 of next year.

    “I’m sure they’re talking to Ali and letting him know about everything. That’s why I pay him the big bucks—so I don’t have to think about stuff like that. I just show up, train, work hard, stay ready. Send a location, I’ll be ready.”

  • Kayla Harrison Appreciates Julianna Peña ‘Winning’ Her More Fans With Unlikeable Trash Talk

    Kayla Harrison Appreciates Julianna Peña ‘Winning’ Her More Fans With Unlikeable Trash Talk

    UFC women’s bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison sees positives coming from Julianna Peña’s brash trash talk in the lead-up to their championship showdown.

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

    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 attempted to set her sights on the retired Amanda Nunes instead, all signs pointed toward Harrison getting her first title shot in 2025, and that’ll come to fruition at UFC 316 in Newark on June 7.

    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 that trend continued at the UFC 316 launch presser in Miami.

    During a recent appearance on the podcast of MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Harrison reflected on their on-stage exchanges and explained why she sees them as beneficial.

    “I’m still trying to figure out what happened,” Kayla Harrison said. “It was a lot. I thought we were going to talk a little bit of sh*t. I was expecting us to have a little bit of fun with it, but she came out swinging and I was like – it kind of works in my favor because she talks so much that everybody just hates her.

    “So I win a lot of fans when I’m just like, ‘All right, whatever, honey.’ She was talking about (Cris) Cyborg and running and grandmas and skinny and bloody and walking tacos, and I was like, ‘What is happening right now?’ We’ll see,” Harrison added.

  • Kayla Harrison ‘Wants To Have Respect’ For Julianna Peña, But Says The Champ Is ‘Pretty Dumb’

    Kayla Harrison ‘Wants To Have Respect’ For Julianna Peña, But Says The Champ Is ‘Pretty Dumb’

    Kayla Harrison sees a lot to admire in Julianna Peña, but that doesn’t mean she finds it easy to show the UFC women’s bantamweight champion respect.

    Harrison staked her claim for a championship opportunity with a 2-0 debut year in the UFC, which saw her submit former champion Holly Holm and defeat Ketlen Vieira on the scorecards.

    Her win over the Brazilian came on the same card that saw Julianna Peña return to the throne at Raquel Pennington’s expense, setting up their showdown for 2025.

    The pair are set to co-headline June’s UFC 316 pay-per-view in Newark, where they’ll reignite hostilities that have existed for years and reached the stage during last October’s UFC 307 press conference. With that, it’s safe to say that there’s no love lost between the two rivals.

    The challenger does still see plenty of positives in Peña, but during an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Harrison explained why it’s sometimes hard to give the champ her due.

    “I want to have a lot of respect for Julianna because she’s a single mom, she’s a veteran of the sport, she scratched and clawed her way to the top, she believed in herself when nobody believed in her,” Kayla Harrison said. “I really wanna have admiration for her.

    “I think probably deep down I do, and I love that she’s confident and she says what she thinks, but she’s just pretty dumb sometimes,” Harrison added.

  • Julianna Peña On Lopsided Odds For Kayla Harrison Fight: ‘People Are Always Counting Me Out’

    Julianna Peña On Lopsided Odds For Kayla Harrison Fight: ‘People Are Always Counting Me Out’

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña isn’t fazed by her underdog status for the expected clash against Kayla Harrison this year.

    Peña and Harrison, who’ve long gone back and forth regarding a potential fight, appeared to set up their inevitable future showdown by emerging victorious at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City last month.

    While “The Venezeulan Vixen” secured a widely debated decision over Raquel Pennington to return to the 135-pound throne, the two-time PFL titleholder and Olympic gold medalist outpointed Ketlen Vieira earlier in the night to move to 2-0 in her UFC debut year.

    Though the champ has pushed for Amanda Nunes to return from retirement for their trilogy, it seems she’ll be tasked with stalling Harrison’s surge toward the top sometime this summer.

    The oddsmakers, for one, don’t seem to believe that is likely. The opening lines placed Peña as a huge +700 underdog.

    During an appearance on the OverDogs Podcast, the bantamweight queen reacted to those odds, outlining the edge she has over heavy favorite Harrison.

    “I think that one of the reasons why I’m a 7-1 underdog, or why I always get overlooked, or why people are always counting me out, is maybe I’m not the most technically sound,” Peña said. “(Maybe I don’t) make everything perfect, where I’m so technical. But I’ve always had this one thing that has set me apart from everybody else, and that is my mindset. And I’ve never put a ceiling on myself as far as what I’m capable of doing. I’ve always believed that I can.

    “When you have that mental toughness of, ‘I don’t care what you do, I’m still going to get up and still keep coming at you a million miles an hour,’ you’re going to have to literally cut my head off to get me to stop, because I’m not going to stop.”

    A date remains unconfirmed for Peña’s first title defense since regaining the gold at Pennington’s expense in 2024.

  • Kayla Harrison Called Out For Interim Title Fight Amid Rumors Of Julianna Peña Injury

    Kayla Harrison Called Out For Interim Title Fight Amid Rumors Of Julianna Peña Injury

    Should Kayla Harrison’s first UFC title fight come in the interim variety, one fellow contender has thrown her name into the hat.

    Harrison staked her claim for a championship opportunity with a 2-0 debut year in the UFC, which saw her submit former champion Holly Holm and defeat Ketlen Vieira on the scorecards.

    Her win over the Brazilian came on the same card that saw Julianna Peña return to the throne at Raquel Pennington’s expense, seemingly setting up their showdown for 2025.

    But should recent remarks from Harrison’s manager prove to be true, the two-time Olympic gold medalist may have some work to do before facing “The Venezuelan Vixen.”

    “This is what I was being told. Julianna Peña, if she’s not ready to fight Kayla, she might have some health problem, it’s going to be an interim title,” Ali Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie. “Hundred percent this is what’s going to happen. And the UFC is just not going to hold the division because somebody don’t want to fight or are injured.”

    And in terms of who an interim title fight could come against, Norma Dumont evidently sees herself as the only logical choice.

    “I hope they don’t accept a fight for the interim belt with an athlete who is coming off a defeat to Julianna. I am the athlete with the longest streak in the (weight class) and the only one who has the physical and technical capacity to overcome it, Dumont was quoted as saying by Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight. “And you know it! So we’re going to have a really interesting fight for the bantamweight (interim title).” 

    Dumont has risen to #4 in the rankings courtesy of two straight wins since returning to bantamweight. After getting the better of former champ Germaine de Randamie, the 34-year-old most recently outpointed Irene Aldana at the Sphere-held UFC 306 pay-per-view.

  • Quote: Julianna Peña ‘Guaranteed’ To Lose UFC Title If She Fights Kayla Harrison

    Quote: Julianna Peña ‘Guaranteed’ To Lose UFC Title If She Fights Kayla Harrison

    One of UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña’s peers isn’t giving her much of a chance against the charging Kayla Harrison.

    Peña and Harrison appear to be on a collision course for 2025 after their respective victories at the UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City this past October.

    While the former regained the 135-pound gold in the co-main event by narrowly and controversially outpointing Raquel Pennington, the ex-PFL standout moved to 2-0 in the Octagon with a victory over Ketlen Vieira.

    Harrison had already been pointed to as a worthy title challenger after she emphatically dispatched former champ Holly Holm by way of submission on debut at UFC 300. But having added another name to her record’s win column after being made to fight another contender, the two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo is widely seen as next in line.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen,” however, instead called out longtime rival Amanda Nunes following her victory. And according to one UFC fighter, that’s perhaps smart if she wants to prolong her reign…

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, formerly ranked flyweight Miranda Maverick gave her assessment of the expected next championship contest at 135 pounds.

    Suffice to say, her view won’t make for good reading in the Peña household.

    “I think Kayla will win,” Maverick said. “I think her striking is not very good and hasn’t seemed to improve very much over time, but I think she’ll win regardless. I think she’ll get it to the ground, and Peña won’t be getting back up. Yeah, Peña will lose her title if she goes against Kayla, guaranteed.”

    While an opponent for the first defense of Peña’s second stint on the bantamweight throne has not been confirmed, she has pointed to International Fight Week in mid-2025 as her desired return date.

  • Julianna Peña Tells Amanda Nunes: ‘No Amount Of Money’ Worth The Damage I’ll Give You

    Julianna Peña Tells Amanda Nunes: ‘No Amount Of Money’ Worth The Damage I’ll Give You

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña has sent a stern warning to longtime rival Amanda Nunes as she continues to pursue a trilogy.

    Peña returned to the 135-pound throne earlier this month in the co-main event of the UFC 307 pay-per-view. In Salt Lake City, Utah, “The Venezuelan Vixen” fell on the right side of a controversial split decision to make Raquel Pennington’s reign a short one.

    With two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison moving to 2-0 in the UFC on the same night, many were quick to brand her possible clash with Peña as the next title fight in the bantamweight division.

    The champ, however, had other plans. She used her time on the mic post-fight to call out former opponent Amanda Nunes, who retired after avenging her loss to Peña and subsequently defeating Irena Aldana to defend the 135-pound title.

    But during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Peña suggested that Nunes is awaiting the result of her expected defense against Harrison, claiming the Brazilian’s comeback teases will dissipate when she blemishes the ex-PFL champ’s UFC record.

    Despite being heavily beaten and bloodied herself en route to a lopsided decision defeat to Nunes in mid-2022, Peña insisted that the damage she’d inflict on Nunes in a trilogy fight would not be worth a lucrative comeback check from the UFC.

    “(Nunes) thinks I’m going to lose to Kayla, and when I beat Kayla, she’s going to say, ‘I stay retired.’ But if Kayla wins, then she’s going to come out of retirement and look like some hero,” Peña said. “The reality is — and I know this for a fact — she feels that she doesn’t have anything to prove against me, and she feels that she hates Kayla more than she wants to prove something and fight me for a trilogy.

    “She walked out of (the rematch) with frickin’ elephantitis on half her face, crutches, and a wheelchair. She knows it’s not going to be some walk in the park, easy night in the office,” Peña continued. “No amount of money they pay her is going to be worth the amount of damage that she’s going to have to sustain in this fight because I’m not going away, and she knows that.”

    “The Lioness” and “The Venezuelan Vixen” were originally slated to share the cage for a third time in Canada last year, but a rib injury forced the latter out.

    Peña was left bemused when her rival subsequently hung up the gloves and has long attempted to draw Nunes back to competition.

    The Brazilian appears closer to a return than ever, but whether that desire derives from a hope to complete unfinished business with the champ or do battle with an ex-teammate in Harrison remains to be seen.

    Julianna Pena & Amanda Nunes
    Image: Chris Unger/UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • Julianna Peña Claims She Took The ‘Soul’ Of Amanda Nunes Despite 5-Round Battering In Rematch

    Julianna Peña Claims She Took The ‘Soul’ Of Amanda Nunes Despite 5-Round Battering In Rematch

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña isn’t giving up in her pursuit of a third showdown with former two-division queen Amanda Nunes.

    Prior to her return to action at the UFC 307 pay-per-view earlier this month, Peña vowed to call out Nunes — who retired following a successful defense against Irene Aldana last year — after recapturing the 135-pound title.

    And to the frustration of those hoping for her to instead set her sights on Kayla Harrison, the newly crowned champ made good on her promise, snubbing the two-time Olympic gold medalist and again attempting to draw the “Lioness” back.

    The pair have already collided twice, with Peña pulling off an almighty upset first time around at UFC 269 but losing in dominant fashion when they ran it back in the main event of UFC 277.

    The rematch went the distance but included Nunes recording multiple knockdowns en route to a one-sided decision, which saw 50-44, 50-45, and 50-46 scorecards in the Brazilian’s favor.

    But during an appearance on Sirius XM‘s MMA Today show, Peña suggested those numbers don’t reflect what actually happened at Dallas’ American Airlines Center, and that she actually took Nunes’ “soul.”

    “Nobody can breathe Amanda Nunes’ name except for me,” Peña said. “I’m the only person that’s going to say, ‘I want you, I know that you retired too early. The first fight, I took your pride in the first fight. The second fight, I took your soul. Make it into the Octagon for this trilogy fight,’ and she can’t do it!

    “So she says to the promotion, ‘Dana White, I’m shaking my ass and I’m tagging you because I miss you and call me, mwah, mwah, mwah.’ And then they call her and what does she say? ‘Oh, I just want to see what happens between Kayla and Julianna and I’ll take the winner,’” Peña continued. “You are not retired! You are biding your time, Amanda Nunes!”

    When Nunes released a video teasing a comeback on social media post-UFC 307, it initially appeared as if “The Venezuelan Vixen’s” callout had been heard.

    But with the champ claiming that the Brazilian is looking to face the winner of her likely showdown with Harrison in 2025, fans of the “Lioness” will seemingly have some time to wait before possibility seeing the legend back in action.

  • Julianna Peña Has A Compliment For ‘Refreshing’ Kayla Harrison After Press Conference Exchange

    Julianna Peña Has A Compliment For ‘Refreshing’ Kayla Harrison After Press Conference Exchange

    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.

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

    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.

  • Julianna Peña Urges Fans To Rewatch UFC 307 Fight Without ‘Garbage’ Commentary

    Julianna Peña Urges Fans To Rewatch UFC 307 Fight Without ‘Garbage’ Commentary

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña believes commentary “bias” has played a part in the negative reaction to her title win earlier this month.

    Peña returned to the mountaintop at 135 pounds in the co-main event of the UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City, outpointing longtime rival Raquel Pennington on two of the three judges’ scorecards.

    The result, which came over two years on from “The Venezuelan Vixen’s” first reign being brought to an end by Amanda Nunes, caused considerable debate.

    On MMA Decisions, 25 out of 27 media members scored the five-round contest in favor of Pennington. That sentiment was also shared by 78 percent of over 500 fan scorecards that were submitted.

    The newly crowned queen has been left bemused by the post-fight ‘robbery’ narratives, and she seemingly placed blame on the commentary team during an appearance on the debut episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned.

    Peña branded the commentary “garbage” while reiterating the reasons why she’s confident that four of the five rounds were won by her.

    “When you throw less and land more, when you’re giving the other girl a bloody nose and a goose egg on her head, when you’re taking her down, when you’re frickin’ making her eyes get as big as plates because you’re hitting her so hard and rocking her sh*t…you can’t tell me that I lost the fight,” Peña said. “I won that fight, and I’m so sick of all these people trying to like, make me feel like I didn’t win.

    “Rewatch the fight without all the commentary bias and you will see clearly that I won that fight,” Peña continued. “Obviously all of the frickin’ MMA media hates my guts. … Every single one of them scored it against me. They need to go rewatch it without all that frickin’ garbage commentary and look at the significant strikes. I threw less and I landed more and they were harder shots. Rewatch it, please!”

    Alongside the controversy regarding the scoring, the other major topic to emerge from Peña’s title win is the next step in the bantamweight division.

    While Kayla Harrison’s victory over Ketlen Vieira on the UFC 307 card has left her as the consensus number one contender, “The Venezuelan Vixen” seemingly has other plans, frequently looking to entice Amanda Nunes back to complete their trilogy instead.

  • Julianna Peña: Fans ‘Want To See’ Me Fight Amanda Nunes, Not Kayla Harrison

    Julianna Peña: Fans ‘Want To See’ Me Fight Amanda Nunes, Not Kayla Harrison

    When it comes to her desire to avoid Kayla Harrison and run it back with the retired Amanda Nunes, UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña claims to have the support of the masses.

    Peña recently commenced the start of a second stint with UFC gold in her possession, having fallen on the right side of a controversial split decision after five rounds against defending champ Raquel Pennington earlier this month in Salt Lake City.

    The bout marked “The Venezuelan Vixen’s” first since her first divisional rule was brought to an emphatic halt by Nunes in their July 2022 rematch.

    There was plenty of backlash toward Peña receiving an immediate shot in her comeback, and even more regarding the contentious decision in Utah.

    But in addition to the scorecards, another post-fight topic has seen the newly crowned bantamweight queen on the receiving end of criticism.

    Peña Reiterates Dismissal Of Harrison As Top Contender, Cites Fan Support

    In her Octagon interview with Joe Rogan at UFC 307, Peña made good on her promise to call out Nunes, encouraging the “Lioness” to return from retirement in order for the pair to complete their trilogy.

    The champ’s decision to snub Harrison was widely questioned, with many insisting the two-time Olympic gold medalist should be next in line following her victory over Ketlen Vieira on the same pay-per-view card.

    Peña evidently hasn’t been swayed from her pursuit of Nunes in the days since, citing Harrison’s weight cut and fan support for another clash with the Brazilian legend as two reasons behind her preference during an interview with MMA Today on SiriusXM.

    “The girl wants to take time off because she even knows that she can’t make the weight and that she’s not a rightful 135er,” Peña said. “She’s too big! She obviously can’t even make the first fight, which is making it to the Octagon. She needs time off. That, to me, is already a loss.

    “Secondly, there was nothing that I saw in her fight against Ketlen Vieira that was (like), ‘Oh, some world beater! Oh my gosh, I’m terrified, Kayla Harrison!’ Give me a break. She went out there three weeks early and still gassed out,” Peña continued. “Kayla Harrison, get in line. I’ve got unfinished business to attend to. … Harrison just came to the party. Amanda Nunes is the big fight, the money fight, the fight that people want to see.”

    Nunes’ comeback teases in 2024 have come as little surprise to Peña and many others in the community, who branded her retirement at UFC 289 in Canada last year as premature. And the “Lioness” further fueled talk of a return by encouraging UFC CEO Dana White to call her in a recent social media video.

    It remains to be seen whether the former two-division champ is planning to head back into competition in pursuit of settling the score with Peña or facing ex-teammate Kayla Harrison.

    Her bemusement at the American Top Team standout’s decision not to call her out at UFC 300 earlier this year would perhaps suggest the latter.

  • Valentina Shevchenko Won’t ‘Discard’ Possible Bantamweight Return To Challenge Julianna Peña

    Valentina Shevchenko Won’t ‘Discard’ Possible Bantamweight Return To Challenge Julianna Peña

    Newly crowned UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña may have a challenge from below to be concerned about.

    Over two years on from having her reign ended at the first hurdle by Amanda Nunes, Peña returned to the throne by way of a controversial decision win over Raquel Pennington in this past weekend’s UFC 307 co-main event.

    While her second divisional rule has only just got underway, talk has quickly turned to her first defense and the likelihood of Kayla Harrison getting a shot in her third Octagon outing.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen,” however, has made it clear that she would rather complete her trilogy with Amanda Nunes should the Brazilian end her retirement.

    But there’s also been growing talk of another former opponent of the bantamweight queen’s pursuing a second victory over her…

    Shevchenko Open To Bantamweight Return In ‘Right’ Circumstances

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9ww6yYtVT8

    During an interview with Bodog Canada prior to UFC 307, flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko assessed a possible rematch with Peña were she to achieve a similar feat at the expense of Pennington.

    The Kyrgyzstani standout submitted Peña en route to an ultimately unsuccessful bantamweight title bid back in 2017. “Bullet” later dropped to 125 pounds, where she enjoyed a lengthy title reign and recently commenced a second.

    Be it a flyweight defense opposite Manon Fiorot or a bantamweight return, Shevchenko insisted that she’s yet to give any thought to what could await her down the line.

    But “Bullet” was also keen to note that nothing is off the table, including a move back up to 135 pounds in pursuit of two-division champ status.

    “You know, I was so busy working on returning my belt back at flyweight, so I didn’t have a chance to think about anything else,” Shevchenko said. “I was focusing so much on Alexa (Grasso). For a year-and-a-half, the only one person I was thinking of was her.

    “I’m not discarding any opportunities. I’m not saying something like, ‘No!’ But yeah, when I recover from the last fight and we go back and see my team, my manager…we will make the decision,” Shevchenko continued. “Probably for me to go up to bantamweight, it would have to pass some time to build up back my muscles. Spending so long at flyweight, I kind of get smaller. … But if I decide to move up, it has to be right.”

    For now, both Shevchenko and Peña will be continuing to celebrate their recent returns to their respective divisional mountaintops.

    And while both women have challengers waiting in the wings, should they cement their grips on the UFC gold in their possession, perhaps a second dance will be in their futures.

  • Chael Sonnen: Kayla Harrison Not Next In Line For UFC Title Shot Based On ‘Merit’ 

    Chael Sonnen: Kayla Harrison Not Next In Line For UFC Title Shot Based On ‘Merit’ 

    If the UFC was to favor a meritocratic route to decide the first challenger to Julianna Peña, former fighter Chael Sonnen believes Raquel Pennington would be getting an immediate rematch.

    Having not competed since being unseated by Amanda Nunes back in July 2022, Peña returned to the bantamweight throne at this past weekend’s UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” fell on the right side of a widely debated split decision verdict in Utah, bringing a short reign for Pennington to an end in the co-main event.

    Some were pointing to the recent numbered card as a tournament for the 135-pound division, with top contenders Kayla Harrison and Ketlen Vieira meeting earlier in the night.

    The two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champion emerged victorious from that clash on the scorecards, seemingly booking a first UFC title shot.

    Sonnen, however, thinks the conversation isn’t quite so clear-cut…

    Sonnen Puts Pennington Above Harrison In Meritocratic Title Shot Queue

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reacted to the events that unfolded in regard to the bantamweight championship conversation at UFC 307.

    While Sonnen acknowledged that Harrison is likely to compete for the gold in her third walk to the Octagon, he suggested that wouldn’t be the case if the decision was based on “merit.”

    “When we’re having the discussion of what’s next, I think it would be responsible for us all — because if we’re just coming from a competitive nature or looking at the rankings, something like that, you lose, you don’t get Kayla. You get Raquel,” Sonnen said. “If you’re gonna just pay attention to merit and who’s done what, you don’t get Kayla vs. Peña next, you get Raquel in a rematch.

    “From the world of promotion, there is nothing on Peña vs. Pennington in a rematch. But guys, there was nothing on it three days ago when we saw it,” Sonnen continued. “We’re not in a vastly different situation. If we’re just going to go off of merit, Pennington must be considered. That’s what I’m offering for you. Pennington should be the champion of the world right now.”

    Regardless, Harrison is expecting to receive her opportunity next time out, having started life on MMA’s biggest stage with consecutive wins over top-five opposition at 135 pounds.

  • Amanda Nunes Reacts To UFC 307, Peña Callout With ‘Call Me’ Plea To Dana White

    Amanda Nunes Reacts To UFC 307, Peña Callout With ‘Call Me’ Plea To Dana White

    It would appear that what went down at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City has further spurred the comeback fire underneath former two-division champion Amanda Nunes.

    Having hinted at a return from retirement earlier this year, two matchups appeared of interest to the Brazilian at this past weekend’s pay-per-view. Before her former opponents Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña collided for the title she vacated last year, ex-teammate Kayla Harrison had her second UFC outing.

    Following the two-time Olympic gold medalist’s Octagon debut in April, Nunes questioned why she hadn’t been called out. While her name remained absent from Harrison’s lips at UFC 307, the same can’t be said for “The Venezuelan Vixen.”

    After regaining the 135-pound title in the co-main event, Peña made good on her promise to address Nunes inside the Octagon, believing her to be far from done as an active fighter.

    Whether it was that callout or Harrison’s performance earlier in the night, somebody seemingly got the Brazilian legend’s attention…

    Did UFC 307 Awaken ‘The Lioness?’ Nunes Requests Call From The Boss

    While Nunes remained silent in the immediate aftermath of Peña’s title win and subsequent callout, she emerged on social media this week with a message for UFC CEO Dana White.

    MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz, a Brazilian journalist, provided context behind her Instagram video video, noting that Nunes was singing along to “Outdoor,” a song created by Brazilian samba group Só Pra Contrariar.

    The original lyrics include, “Oh please call,” and, “I Miss you so much.” Nunes is said to have altered the lyrics to, “Call me, please.”

    If Nunes does officially commit to a return, it remains unclear whether her goal will be regaining the title, settling the score with Peña, or having a long-awaited showdown with former teammate Harrison.

    Regardless, should predictions of “The Lioness” meeting the winner of the expected Peña vs. Harrison clash come to fruition, she’ll have the chance to kill two of those birds with one stone.

  • UFC 307: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC 307: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC 307 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    The upcoming pay-per-view event at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah provides a chance for UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira to further enhance his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    After capturing the gold in November 2023 and withstanding challenges from Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka this year, “Poatan” is next tasked with stalling the championship ambitions of Khalil Rountree to continue his reign atop the 205-pound mountain.

    Title stakes will also be present for the co-main event, which will see Raquel Pennington make her first defense of the bantamweight belt opposite returning ex-divisional queen Julianna Peña.

    Elsewhere on the UFC 307 card, the legendary José Aldo looks to continue his pursuit of a late-career title shot after a successful return from retirement this past May, Kayla Harrison makes her second Octagon outing, the always entertaining Kevin Holland shoots for the middleweight top 10, and former two-time strawweight queen Carla Esparza enters the cage for the final time.

    Ahead of the event, all 24 fighters successfully made weight. With that, every fight has remained intact, and all that remains on Friday night is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 307 ceremonial weigh-ins!

    Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 6 p.m. ET.

    UFC 307 Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • UFC 307: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Weigh-In Results

    UFC 307: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Weigh-In Results

    UFC 307 takes place tomorrow night, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After staging an event inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere last month, the mixed martial arts leader is back in Utah for its latest numbered card, which goes down inside Salt Lake City’s Delta Center.

    Two titles will be on the line at the top of the card, with Alex Pereira defending his light heavyweight belt against Khalil Rountree and Raquel Pennington staking the women’s bantamweight gold opposite Julianna Peña.

    Also on the main card will be returns for UFC legend José Aldo, two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison, and fan favorite Kevin Holland.

    UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Weigh-In Results

    UFC 307 takes place Saturday, October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT.

    See above for a replay of the UFC 307 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira (205lbs) vs. Khalil Rountree (205lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Raquel Pennington (135lbs) vs. Julianna Peña (134.5lbs)
    • Bantamweight: José Aldo (136lbs) vs. Mario Bautista (136lbs)
    • Middleweight: Roman Dolidze (185.5lbs) vs. Kevin Holland (185.5lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Ketlen Vieira (136lbs) vs. Kayla Harrison (136lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Welterweight: Stephen Thompson (171lbs) vs. Joaquin Buckley (170.5lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Marina Rodriguez (115.5lbs) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (116lbs)
    • Lightweight: Austin Hubbard (156lbs) vs. Alexander Hernandez (156lbs)
    • Middleweight: César Almeida (185.5lbs) vs. Ihor Potieria (185.5lbs)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Light Heavyweight: Ryan Spann (205.5lbs) vs. Ovince Saint Preux (205.5lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Carla Esparza (115.5lbs) vs. Tecia Pennington (115lbs)
    • Welterweight: Court McGee (170lbs) vs. Tim Means (171lbs)
  • UFC 307 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Pereira vs. Rountree, Pennington vs. Peña, & More

    UFC 307 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Pereira vs. Rountree, Pennington vs. Peña, & More

    UFC 307 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for Saturday’s lineup.

    The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, October 5, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira, who is tasked with getting the better of surprise challenger Khalil Rountree if he’s to record a third successful title defense in 2024.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see Raquel Pennington making her first defense of the bantamweight gold. Nine months on from her crowning, “Rocky” will meet a familiar face in fellow TUF 18 competitor Julianna Peña, a former champ who is returning from a two-year layoff.

    Also set to make the walk on Saturday night will be the likes of UFC legend José Aldo, two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison, and the always entertaining Kevin Holland.

    Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the UFC 307 main card here.

    UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 307 (as of 10/4), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Alex Pereira (-455) vs. Khalil Rountree (+350)
    • Raquel Pennington (-166) vs. Julianna Peña (+140)
    • José Aldo (+124) vs. Mario Bautista (-148)
    • Roman Dolidze (+130) vs. Kevin Holland (-155)
    • Ketlen Vieira (+700) vs. Kayla Harrison (-1100)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Stephen Thompson (+180) vs. Joaquin Buckley (-218)
    • Marina Rodriguez (+164) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (-198)
    • Austin Hubbard (+130) vs. Alexander Hernandez (-155)
    • César Almeida (-380) vs. Ihor Potieria (+300)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Ryan Spann (-245) vs. Ovince Saint Preux (+200)
    • Carla Esparza (+150) vs. Tecia Pennington (-180)
    • Court McGee (+164) vs. Tim Means (-198)
  • UFC 307: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Press Conference Highlights & Faceoffs

    UFC 307: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Press Conference Highlights & Faceoffs

    We’re deep into UFC 307 fight week, meaning it was recently time for the fighters set to be in action on October 5 to take to the stage and answer some questions.

    The MMA leader’s latest numbered event takes place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the main attraction will see UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira put his belt on the line against Khalil Rountree.

    Setting the stage for the headliners will be another title fight, with reigning bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington looking to record a first successful defense at the expense of returning former champ Julianna Peña.

    Also on pay-per-view will be UFC legend José Aldo, who will kickstart his new contract against rising bantamweight Mario Bautista, as well as two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison, who makes her second Octagon appearance opposite Ketlen Vieira.

    The main card will also see the always entertaining Kevin Holland making the walk, as he shoots for the middleweight top 10 against Roman Dolidze.

    As is customary during major fight weeks, the athletes took to the stage on Thursday for the pre-fight press conference. The UFC 307 edition saw every fighter set to make the walk on the main card in two days’ time with mic in hand.

    Check out a full replay of the presser below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, followed by all the highlights and faceoffs.

    UFC 307 Pre-Fight Press Conference Stream

    UFC 307 Press Conference Highlights

    UFC 307 Press Conference Faceoffs

  • Julianna Peña Slams Champ Raquel Pennington’s Promotional Efforts: ‘She Said No To Embedded!’

    Julianna Peña Slams Champ Raquel Pennington’s Promotional Efforts: ‘She Said No To Embedded!’

    UFC women’s bantamweight contender Julianna Peña continues to be unimpressed by Raquel Pennington’s efforts as champion.

    Nine months on from winning the vacant belt at the expense of Mayra Bueno Silva in Canada, Pennington will return for her first title defense in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view.

    Opposite “Rocky” in Salt Lake City, Utah will be a familiar face in the form of Peña, whom she featured with on the cast of The Ultimate Fighter 18 in 2013.

    Animosity exists between the pair dating back to the show, and that’s led to plenty of back and forth in the lead-up to their collision inside the Octagon at the Delta Center this weekend.

    Peña: Pennington Not A ‘Good Representation’ Of The Division

    During her appearance at UFC 307 media day on Wednesday, Peña assessed how Pennington has fit into the role of champion following her crowning in Toronto this past January.

    The former bantamweight queen unsurprisingly had a critical take, taking aim at Pennington’s failure to promote herself and their fight adequately.

    “Raquel has not been a good representation of the women’s bantamweight division,” Peña said. “She has not promoted. She has said no to Embedded. She has constantly done everything that she can to avoid being the face of women’s MMA and not being that big face who wants to promote and be that big representation of women’s MMA.

    “That, to me, is you’re showing me nothing, but you’re telling me everything by not being that person that is letting everyone know that you’re fighting,” Peña continued. “I want to be that person. That’s my role, and I can do it better, and that’s why I believe I am going to be able to seal the deal on Saturday night and get that gold again.”

    While Peña is hoping and evidently expecting to invigorate the division with a second reign, one which she hopes draws Amanda Nunes back from retirement to complete their trilogy, Pennington no doubt has other plans.

    And should “Rocky” have her hand raised in the “Beehive State,” she’d have achieved a feat that “The Venezuelan Vixen” failed when she held the gold — recording a successful title defense.

  • Raquel Pennington Points Out Key ‘Mistake’ Julianna Peña Has Made Ahead Of UFC 307

    Raquel Pennington Points Out Key ‘Mistake’ Julianna Peña Has Made Ahead Of UFC 307

    UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Raquel Pennington believes upcoming challenger Julianna Peña may see the error of her ways soon enough.

    Pennington is set to make her first defense of the 135-pound title in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view, which comes nine months on from her capturing of the vacant belt in Canada to kick off 2024.

    Having achieved her championship ambitions, “Rocky” has the chance to solidify her status as divisional queen by stalling the two-time goals of ex-champ Peña.

    Their contest and many other notable bouts will go down at the high altitude of Salt Lake City, Utah this weekend. But when it comes to the effect that has, the two co-headliners see things very differently…

    Pennington Rejects Peña’s Altitude Claim Ahead Of Utah-Held UFC 307

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Pennington reacted to some recent remarks regarding the impact of altitude from her opponent on October 5.

    Peña opted against heading to Salt Lake City early to acclimate, branding such a move “unnecessary” when she’s in good shape. The champ sees that decision as a “mistake.”

    “Just being born and raised in altitude, yeah, I would say that’s a mistake,” Pennington said. “Altitude is not a joke. It really does affect people. You know how many people come here to visit and are like, ‘Oh my gosh, we don’t understand why we’re feeling this or we’re feeling that and we’re just standing here.’ It’s the altitude, and then when you’re pushing your body to the limit, it plays a part.

    “I notice a big difference when I go anywhere else. Sometimes I have to really slow down and control my breathing because I feel like I’m actually getting too much air, and I kind of hyperventilate a little bit, so I have to train my breathing a little different,” Pennington continued. “It’s something that I think every athlete should take into consideration, especially if you’re going to go push yourself to the limit.”

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” will look to prove that assessment wrong by making good on her prediction of recapturing the bantamweight championship after a fight-week arrival in the “Beehive State.”

  • Julianna Peña Gives Defiant Reaction To Underdog Status At UFC 307

    Given her history of upsetting the odds, former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña is welcoming the underdog status attached to her this week.

    For the third straight fight in her career, gold will be on the line when Peña makes the walk at Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view, set for the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” is set to co-headline the event in competition for Raquel Pennington’s 135-pound title. Peña previously won the belt and subsequently lost it in a two-fight series with Amanda Nunes.

    Having not competed since her rematch with the “Lioness” in June 2022, the former champ is being counted out by some. That’s reflected in the odds, with her line currently at +136 on DraftKings.

    But Peña has absolutely no qualms about entering her title challenge as the underdog…

    Peña Doesn’t Feel Like The Underdog At UFC 307

    During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Peña looked ahead to her first outing in over two years and chance to regain the title at 135 pounds.

    While Pennington is favored to retain possession of the championship by the oddsmakers, “The Venezuelan Vixen” is more than ready to prove her doubters wrong — again.

    “It doesn’t (surprise me). I think I was an 11-1 underdog at one point when I was fighting Amanda,” Peña said. “If you go back to the majority of my fights, I am always the underdog. In fact, right off the top of my head, I can’t even think of a time when I was the favorite.

    “It’s just kind of like, I am that underdog role. I always have been,” Peña continued. “At the end of the day, it’s what I believe in my heart. I don’t feel like I’m the underdog. I’m very confident in what I am able to do. So you can call me an underdog, you can call me a favorite, you can call me whatever you want. Just remember that I am Julianna Peña, and I’m going to go in there and get my hand raised at any and all cost.”

    While it wouldn’t mark the kind of shock win she achieved back in December 2021, Peña will be hoping to upset the odds once again en route to the women’s bantamweight throne this weekend.

  • Julianna Peña Talks Beef With ‘Worst Roommate Ever’ Raquel Pennington: ‘Thirteen Years In The Making…’

    Julianna Peña Talks Beef With ‘Worst Roommate Ever’ Raquel Pennington: ‘Thirteen Years In The Making…’

    Julianna Peña recently opened up about her long-standing feud with Raquel Pennington, which has simmered since their days on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) back in 2013.

    Many fans might not remember that both Peña and Pennington were part of Team Miesha Tate against Team Ronda Rousey during season 18 of the MMA reality show. Despite both appearing on the show, the two bantamweights never clashed. Now, over a decade later, fate has finally aligned them for a long-awaited showdown inside the Octagon.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” is set to take her second shot at the women’s bantamweight crown when she faces reigning champion Pennington in the co-main event of UFC 307 this Saturday at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Although Peña and Pennington were teammates on The Ultimate Fighter, they were often at odds. Despite their friction, the Washington native went on to win the season with a dominant first-round knockout over Team Rousey’s Jessica Rakoczy, while ‘Rocky’ was forced to withdraw early from the competition due to injury.

    Peña Intends To Make Pennington Regret Past Behavior At UFC 307

    During a recent interview with SHAK MMA, “The Venezuelan Vixen” reflected on her time during TUF 18, when she and her now rival Pennington were roommates. The former UFC bantamweight champion revealed that she had been nothing but helpful and supportive during their stint but claimed that ‘Rocky’ was consistently rude to her.

    “Raquel and I have had our history of little spats,” Peña said. “If you watch The Ultimate Fighter, she was doing things and saying things that I disagreed with, and it gets to be one of those—I don’t know if you saw that Netflix series Worst Roommate Ever—where they just have these like terrible roommates, and I’m like, I’m doing all of your dishes, I’m giving you makeovers, I’m teaching you how to walk like a runway model. Why are you so horrible to me? Why are you making my life a living hell?””

    Peña boldly declared that she plans to hold Pennington accountable for her past transgressions and settle their animosity when they clash inside the Octagon at UFC 307 this weekend.

    “For me, it’s just one of those things where I would much rather get it over with. This has been 13 years in the making, and it’s time for the worst roommate ever to get their due justice.”

  • VIDEO: UFC 307 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree & Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Peña

    VIDEO: UFC 307 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree & Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Peña

    Fight week for the UFC 307 pay-per-view this Saturday night has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode.

    Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree and the co-main event between Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña.

    Saturday’s lineup is topped by an intriguing championship clash, with light heavyweight kingpin Pereira (11-2) looking to add a third successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a victory over Jiří Procházka at UFC 295 in November 2023. He’s since retained possession of the belt by getting the better of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 this past April and Procházka in their short-notice UFC 303 rematch.

    If “Poatan” is to continue his rule atop the 205-pound mountain, he must record a victory over Rountree (13-5, 1 NC). “The War Horse” will ride a five-fight win streak into his first title shot on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, most notably getting the better of former championship challenger Anthony Smith in brutal fashion last time out.

    Before those two run it back in the main event at Salt Lake City’s Delta Center, one of three women’s titles in the UFC will be at stake.

    The women’s bantamweight gold will be contested by current champ Pennington (16-8) and former divisional queen Peña (11-5), as they settle a rivalry that began to brew during their time on The Ultimate Fighter season 18 in 2013. While “Rocky” will return eight months on from her capturing of the then-vacant strap, “The Venezuelan Vixen” is set to make the walk for the first time since losing the title in her rematch with Amanda Nunes over two years ago.

    Ahead of those two contests in Utah, fans can catch previews in the full episode of UFC 307 Countdown on the promotion’s YouTube channel.

    UFC 307 Countdown: Full Episode

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sETTkhCsqKI
  • Julianna Peña Criticizes Amanda Nunes For ‘Attention Seeking’ With Retirement Announcement Amid Return Rumors

    Julianna Peña Criticizes Amanda Nunes For ‘Attention Seeking’ With Retirement Announcement Amid Return Rumors

    Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña remains critical of Amanda Nunes’ decision to retire in mid-2023.

    Nunes laid down her two titles and gloves in the Octagon following a successful 135-pound defense against irena Aldana. Their showdown at UFC 289 in Canada came about on short-notice following the withdrawal of Peña through injury.

    Close by cageside on the night was “The Venezuelan Vixen,” who expected to set up a rearranged trilogy fight with the “Lioness.” Instead, the Brazilian announced a surprise retirement.

    Peña’s boos and heckling during it made clear what she thought of the decision, and as talk of a comeback continues to float at the surface this year, the Spokane native remains frustrated by last year’s announcement…

    Peña Slams ‘Drama Show’ From Nunes: ‘I Can’t Stand When People Retire & Then Come Back!’

    During an interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Peña looked back on Nunes’ retirement, the continuation of which got thrown into doubt after she questioned Kayla Harrison’s decision not to call her out following a successful Octagon debut at UFC 300.

    Having suggested her antics during Nunes’ retirement speech have now been vindicated, Peña has an even more critical view of her longtime rival’s decision in Vancouver, seeing it as nothing but an “attention seeking move.”

    “I knew that she was prematurely retiring,” Peña said. “I can’t stand when people retire and then come back. It’s like, why retire in the first place? It’s just attention seeking. I think she should have just said, ‘I want a break and I’m gonna lay the belt down and let it be vacant. When I’m ready to fight for it again, I’ll fight for it again,’ instead of just building this drama show about how she’s ready to retire.

    “I don’t think she’s ready to retire, I know that she wants to come back, and my objective is to get her to come back after I beat Raquel (Pennington),” Peña added.

    Before looking to put her sights firmly back on the “Lioness,” Peña must make good on her promise to comfortably unseat Pennington in her very first defense. While unconfirmed, the pair are expected to collide at the Salt Lake City-held UFC 307 pay-per-view on October 5.

    Should she achieve two-time champ status in 2024, perhaps Nunes will be tempted back to the cage. If not, a showdown with UFC newcomer Kayla Harrison would appear to be on the cards.