As the highly anticipated UFC 307 fight card approaches, numerous intriguing topics generate buzz. One of these topics is the contrasting opinions regarding the deserving women’s bantamweight contender for UFC 307. Former bantamweight champ Julianna Pena recently expressed her views on that. In doing so, she criticized Kayla Harrison and Raquel Pennington as well.
Julianna Pena is returning after a long break to compete in the women’s bantamweight championship at UFC 307. There has been criticism about Pena getting a title shot after her long hiatus. Instead of Pena, many fight fans rooted for Kayla Harrison to be the one challenging Pennington. However, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ disagrees with that and stated her reasons in a recent interview.
I think that not only is it unfair for somebody to beat a 45-year-old (Kayla Harrison) and get one win and be able to fight for the title… There hasn’t been anybody else that was ever able to stop Amanda Nunes in the dominant fashion that I was able to do… Even Raquel herself, [wanted to] quit on the stool… I think that for me, I stopped and slayed the GOAT that no one was able to beat in over seven years…
Julianna Pena via MMAFighting SBN on YouTube
Per Pena, Kayla Harrison must defeat tough opponents in her division to compete for the UFC championship. She joined the UFC in January 2024 after a successful stint in the PFL. Currently, she has only one fight in the UFC resume against 42-year-old Holly Holm at UFC 300. Despite Harrison’s impressive achievements, Pena believes she shouldn’t skip ahead of other fighters in line for a title shot.
Julianna Pena responds to critics that believe Kayla Harrison should be fighting for the title at #UFC307 over her after beating “a 45-year-old and [getting] one win” in the UFC.
🎥 (@MikeHeck_JR) pic.twitter.com/tqyiFpxfU8
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) October 1, 2024
Pena is stating another reason to defend her UFC 307 title shot. Before Raquel Pennington, the ‘GOAT’ Amanda Nunes was dominant as the women’s bantamweight champion. During Nunes’ last 4-5 years at the UFC, she only lost to Julianna Pena. According to Pena, nobody in the division came close to Nunes except for her. For this reason, the Venezuelan Vixen confidently stood her ground against criticism.
Julianna Pena feels confident amidst a two-year hiatus
The Venezuelan Vixen’s last fight at the promotion was back in 2022 when Amanda Nunes defeated Pena to reclaim her title. Following that defeat, the Pena went for a break and didn’t fight. During this two-year break, a lot of developments happened. In June 2023, Nunes vacated her bantamweight crown after defending it against Irene Aldana.
In January 2024, Raquel Pennington got the opportunity to win the vacated belt. At UFC 297, she defeated Mayra Bueno Silva to become the new women’s bantamweight champ. In her first defense, Pennington is set to face a former champ. Meanwhile, Pena is seemingly confident about her upcoming bout. As such, she gives a major credit to her year-long break for that.
I have had many times where I have had to take two years layoffs and you know I have been able to come back successfully from all of those layoffs and still get my hand raised…
Julianna Pena via MMA Junkie
Julianna Pena is a UFC veteran with over a decade of experience in the promotion. Meanwhile, Pennington has proven herself in the last few years and currently boasts a six-fight win streak. That being said, now it remains to be seen who comes out as the victor this weekend in Utah.
