Julianna Pena’s second women’s bantamweight title run came to an abrupt halt in the UFC 316 co-main event over the weekend in Newark, New Jersey. Late in the second round, Kayla Harrison forced Pena to tap out to a kimura to become the new UFC women’s 135-pound champion.
Sitting octagon-side for the fight was former two-division UFC titleholder Amanda Nunes. She entered the cage following Harrison’s win setting up a future fight between the former teammates.
Following the loss, a ‘super disappointed’ Pena released a statement via social media calling for the winner of the Harrison vs. Nunes fight.
“Thank you to the fans who lifted me with your love and encouragement during this #fightcamp. I love you all and feel so grateful for all the support and energy you guys give me—It truly means the world! I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get the job done. I’m super disappointed but hats off to Kayla on her wine,” Pena wrote on Instagram.
“Time to get healed up and get ready for her next fight because I’m calling dibs on the winner!”
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Pena first became the 135-pound titleholder by beating the great Amanda Nunes in December 2021 at UFC 269. Nunes avenged the loss in the rematch at UFC 277 and announced her retirement. Pena won back the bantamweight crown at UFC 307, narrowly defeating Raquel Pennington via split decision.
Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo, made her octagon debut at UFC 300 against former champion Holly Holm. She demolished “The Preacher’s Daughter” and picked up a win over Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 to earn the title fight with Pennington.
Before her arrival in the UFC, Harrison was a two-time PFL women’s lightweight champion.
