Tag: Julianna Pena

Kayla Harrison suggests interim title fight vs. Julianna Peña if UFC champ Raquel Pennington injured

Kayla Harrison is ready to fight for a UFC title – even if it’s got an interim tag attached to it.

[autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] is ready to fight for a UFC title – even if it’s got an interim tag attached to it.

Harrison (17-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) impressed in her octagon debut when she ran through former champion Holly Holm for a second-round submission Saturday at UFC 300.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka and former PFL champion said she’s heard rumblings that UFC bantamweight champ [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag] is injured. So in the meantime, Harrison has a proposition: She believes [autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag] (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) would make for a great interim title fight June 29 at UFC 303.

“I heard that ‘Rocky’s’ hurt all of the sudden, so if she can’t fight right now, I’m happy to fight whoever this summer for a title,” Harrison said on “The MMA Hour.” “Why not just an interim title? Then I’ll unify it. Then I’ll fight Amanda (Nunes). If it’s for a title, I will make myself available. I would love (UFC 303). F*ck it, my time is now. I like the sound of that (Harrison vs. Peña). There would be some good sh*t talking from me.”

According to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Pennington shut down that idea instantly.

“Interim title??? She needs to calm down,” Pennington said. “I’ve already discussed a timeframe for a title defense later this year.”

Former double champ Amanda Nunes, who is currently retired, was surprised that ex-American Top Team training partner Harrison didn’t call her out. Harrison said she finds it pointless to go after someone who isn’t active and explains where things went south between Nunes and ATT.

“I think that Amanda’s worst enemy is her own mind,” Harrison said. “She got it in her head that I was coming for her. I think after she lost to Julianna, she thought that I was going to get in the cage that night and challenge her, which was not true, not the case, not even near true. She thought everyone on the team was against her.

“Again, not true, not the case. Actually everyone on the team was doing their best to keep us in separate organizations even though I wanted to go. I was like, ‘I’m out, let’s go.’ I think there was still 145. I was like, come on, let’s do this. I think it just left a bad taste in her own mind, this not true image of what was happening behind the scenes.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Julianna Peña definitely interested in UFC fight with ‘big name’ Kayla Harrison down the line

Julianna Peña is laser focused on Raquel Pennington, but has Kayla Harrison in her sights.

[autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag] is laser focused on [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag], but has [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] in her sights.

Peña expects to be bantamweight champion Pennington’s first title defense, but a fight is yet to be booked. The other standout name that could be in the running is Harrison, who makes her octagon debut against Holly Holm April 13 at UFC 300.

But Peña (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) questions if Harrison (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will in peak form, as she attempts to make 135 pounds for the first time in her career.

“Kayla Harrison is fighting a battle right now that she’s got to be able to contend with, and that’s making 135 pounds,” Peña told MMA on Sirius XM. “We know that there’s nobody in the 145-pound division. You can’t name 10 145ers. So first off, let’s just see if she can make it. Second off, let’s see how she performs – because her fights (have been) at 155. She’s already draining and cutting a ton of weight.

“When you cut that much and get down to 135, you’re a shell of yourself at what you were at 145 or even 155. Let’s see how she performs at 135, and let’s see her make that, and then we could talk. But as far as I’m concerned, she was getting a bunch of ‘gimme’ fights at PFL.”

Although Peña doesn’t think former champion Holm (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) is the same fighter now that she’s 42, if Harrison can beat her, she will have Peña’s attention.

“Holly Holm will be a very big test for her, and if she can overcome Holly Holm, then we’ll see,” Peña said. “But absolutely: Kayla’s a big name. She talks a lot of crap, she’s a worthy adversary and that’s definitely a fight I want later on down the line. You bet you.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Photos: All-time UFC women’s champions

Take a look at the history of females who have claimed UFC gold.

From the first-ever UFC women’s champion, Ronda Rousey, to the current crop of titleholders, here’s a look at the females who have captured UFC gold since women first step foot in the octagon in 2013.

Julianna Peña rips Amanda Nunes for contemplating UFC return: ‘She was just doing that retirement for attention’

Julianna Peña was never convinced about Amanda Nunes’ retirement – and she still isn’t.

[autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag] was never convinced of [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag]’ retirement – and she still isn’t.

Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC), who hung up her gloves after retaining her bantamweight title against Irene Aldana last June, was in attendance for Raquel Pennington’s title-winning performance over Mayra Bueno Silva in this past Saturday’s UFC 297 co-main event.

Nunes said she still feels like a champion when asked about a potential comeback to the octagon and didn’t entirely rule out a return. Peña caught plenty of grief when she booed Nunes during her retirement speech, so she finds the former two-division UFC champion’s comments laughable.

“Here’s the thing that really chaps my ass,” Peña said on “The MMA Hour.” “When I was at her last fight, I was booing because she was going into retirement and I was like, ‘Don’t go into retirement. We have literally the biggest fight in women’s history, a trilogy that’s never been done before. What are you doing saying you’re going to retire? What a joke.’

“It warrants a boo because she’s over there telling Megan Olivi that she’s coming out of retirement. So I was right, and it was ‘Mystic Peña’ once again. Like, they were going to get mad at me and all her fans are upset at me. ‘Why would you boo her? How dare you?’ But it’s like, how dare she? How dare she say that she’s retiring and then one women’s fight later now she’s saying she’s coming back. Get out of here.”

Peña (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) scored a massive upset win over Nunes when she submitted her to become bantamweight champion at UFC 269. Nunes was able to avenge her loss in dominant fashion at UFC 277, and Peña has been eager to settle the score ever since.

“Look, great for business, I’ve been trying to coax her into coming back this entire time.” Peña said. “It’s absolutely beautiful for everyone, and I knew she wasn’t going to be able to stay away. She was just doing that retirement for attention. It’s just ridiculous.”

For now, Peña is turning her attention to newly crowned champion Pennington (16-8 MMA, 13-5 UFC), whom she has history with. Both took part in Season 18 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which Peña won.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.

Julianna Peña rips Raquel Pennington ‘snooze fest’ UFC 297 title win, vows to retire new champ

Julianna Peña was unsurprisingly critical of Raquel Pennington’s UFC 297 title win and promises the new champ’s reign will be “short lived.”

[autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag] was not entertained by [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag]’s performance in Saturday’s UFC 297 vacant women’s bantamweight title win over Mayra Bueno Silva.

“It was a snooze fest,” Peña said on Monday’s episode of “The MMA Hour” with Ariel Helwani. “I was not impressed. I was not impressed with their performances, as my friend Georges St-Pierre likes to say. … It was all around just a complete disappointment, but it doesn’t matter because the breaking news is we will be fighting for the real belt this summer, coming at you to a theatre near you.”

Peña (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) claims she was originally offered to be part of the vacant 135-pound championship bout after Amanda Nunes retired from MMA in June. Injury prevented her from accepting, so she had to be a witness as Pennington (16-8 MMA, 13-5 UFC) outlasted Bueno Silva over the course of five rounds for a unanimous decision victory at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

It didn’t take long after Pennington had the belt wrapped around her waist to call for a matchup with Peña, which she’s wanted for some time.

“That relationship just goes back to 2013 when we were both back in ‘The Ultimate Fighter,'” Pennington said at the UFC 297 post-fight news conference. “Let’s just say I learned Julianna’s personality then, and it’s kind of one of those where you stay your way, and I’ll stay mine, but you get under my damn skin. I’ve been waiting for that fight for 13 years – whether the title is on the line or not.”

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Peña, 34, heard the comments from Pennington, 35, and she was amused while detailing the genesis of some of the issues between them.

“It just cracks because to me, it’s like, you sound delusional,” Peña said. “First off I’ve got to say I love me, some me. I’m never going to agree with that when she says that, ‘You go your way and I go mine.’ Yes, you’re right. I go my way (up) and you go yours (down). And the way that I’m going is winning ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ and winning the championship.

“When we were living inside the house, she was saying up so late with Shayna Baszler until three, four o’clock in the morning and in ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ house you get to train twice a day with the best people in the world. Every single day you get to train two times inside the gym. Well she was staying up so late, and she was sleeping above me in the bunk bed, that she would miss her first practice and she would never come to first practice. So I’m out here grinding two times a day, making the most out of my opportunities so that I can become ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ while she’s sleeping. We’re going opposite ways all right. I’m grinding and coming up and you’re not doing anything, just content with sleeping and being a being a bump on the log. It’s not my fault that you’ve been waiting 10 years to get this fight.”

Peña said she’s already started to engage with the UFC brass about a title showdown with Pennington, and is confident it will come to fruition for June or July. “The Venezuelan Vixen” said she hopes Pennington enjoys her time with the belt until then, because her days on top are numbered.

“I really am happy for her and her career and everything like that. But it’s going to be short-lived. It’s not going to be being this champion for seven years. That’s not the case, unfortunately. She’s already talking about retiring and going into her retirement being a family man. Let me do the honors and kick you into retirement, Raquel.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.

Raquel Pennington wants Julianna Peña for first UFC title defense: ‘I’ve been waiting for that fight for 13 years’

Raquel Pennington is hoping that she fights Julianna Peña for first UFC title defense.

TORONTO – [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag] already has in mind who she’d like to fight for her first fight as UFC champion.

The veteran fighter won the vacant UFC women’s bantamweight title this past Saturday. She did so by defeating Mayra Bueno Silva (10-3-1 MMA, 5-3-1 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC 297. And now, with the belt around her waist, Pennington (16-8 MMA, 13-5 UFC) would like to defend against former champion [autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag].

“That’s the fight that makes sense,” Pennington told reporters at the UFC 297 post-fight press conference. “I honestly thought that for the world title it was going to be me and Julianna, but she’s still injured.

“That relationship just goes back to 2013 when we were both back in The Ultimate Fighter. Let’s just say I learned Julianna’s personality then, and it’s kind of one of those where you stay your way, and I’ll stay mine, but you get under my damn skin. I’ve been waiting for that fight for 13 years – whether the title is on the line or not.”

UFC CEO Dana White said at the post-fight press conference that Peña is likely next, but it’s not 100 percent sure, given there’s not a health status set on the former champion.

Pennington would ideally like to fight Peña next, but if not, she’s open to all comers.

“There’s talent n this division,” Pennington said. “Everyone is a challenge and people are constantly evolving and growing.  I do want to stay active, and I am getting older and stuff too. We have our family now, and we want to continue building on that. It’s just trying to find balance on everything. I would like to defend the title a couple of times and then that’s a wrap for me.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.

Julianna Peña not a fan of ‘horrible’ Raquel Pennington-Mayra Bueno Silva title fight at UFC 297

When it comes to the vacant women’s bantamweight title fight at UFC 297 in Toronto, former champ Julianna Peña is not a fan.

[autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag] is not a fan of one of UFC 297’s title fights.

After Amanda Nunes retired and relinquished her belt, [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag] (15-8 MMA, 12-5 UFC) and [autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag] (10-2-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) will battle for the vacant women’s bantamweight title in the Jan. 20 co-main event at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

Former champion Peña (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) was expected to be one-half of the title fight, but couldn’t compete due to injury.

“I’m sorry that you guys are going to be force-fed this horrible interim title fight,” Peña said on “The MMA Hour.” “It’s going to be interim. They’re just keeping it warm. They’re belt warming until I come back. Mama’s coming back, so apologies for the fact that I cannot compete, but I will be back fighting. My next fight will be for a title, so whoever wins between those two chicks, I’ll be fighting the winner.”

Peña and Pennington were participants on Season 18 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” but never crossed paths. Peña won the show. Since she lost to Nunes in May 2018, Pennington has won six of her past eight and five straight overall to earn another title fight.

Peña praised her growth.

“I’m going to give a little bit of a shine to Raquel because I feel like over time, she has gotten better and better as time goes on,” Peña said. “She’s definitely a durable fighter. She’s capable of being a champion and getting that belt, so I would say that Raquel has the veteran-ness on her side.”

Peña and Silva recently traded barbs. While Peña is not necessarily rooting for Silva to win, she thinks the build-up with her would be a lot more entertaining than with Pennington.

“Here’s the thing: At least Mayra is like a dance partner, you know what I mean?” Peña said. “Because look, at the end of the day – love me, hate me whatever, I want you guys to be invested in my success. I want you to be invested in my failures. It doesn’t matter. I need you guys to watch the fights. I want you guys to watch me fight.

“And the point of the banter (and) back-and-forth is so that I can have a dance partner, so that I can make it more exciting so that people are going to want to watch. With Mayra, I have that in her because she’s got a mouth, I’ve got a mouth, and we can go back and forth. With Raquel, it’s kind of like crickets. For me, it’d be better if Mayra wins so that way we can make it more exciting for all of you guys.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.

‘EA UFC 5’ rating release for best women’s bantamweight: Retired Amanda Nunes still on top

Check out the game ratings for the top five women’s bantamweights in “EA UFC 5,” the top two of which are not active in the division.

With the release of the “EA UFC 5” video game rapidly approaching, fans are wondering who the best characters in each weight class will be.

MMA Junkie will have the answer to some of those unknowns, as ratings are starting to be unveiled ahead of the Oct. 27 launch (with access on Oct. 24 with purchase of the Deluxe Edition) for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.

The countdown continues with the women’s bantamweight division, which does not currently have a champion after arguably the best female fighter in UFC history, Amanda Nunes, retired from competition earlier this year.

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Check below for a countdown of the top five rated women’s 135-pound fighters from “EA UFC 5,” who have their striking, grappling and health come together under a five-star system to create an overall rating out of five.

Julianna Peña blasts Mayra Bueno Silva after failed drug test: ‘You had to cheat in order to get it done’

Julianna Peña doesn’t seem to care about the reasoning behind Mayra Bueno Silva’s failed drug test.

[autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag] doesn’t seem to care about the reasoning behind [autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag]’s failed drug test. She thinks the Brazilian is a “cheat” not matter how it’s explained.

Bueno Silva (11-2-1 MMA, 6-2-1 UFC) revealed Monday that she tested positive for a banned substance ahead of her July submission victory over Holly Holm, but explained it was due to an ADHD medication, and not that she was intending to gain a performance-enhancing advantage.

It’s likely that Bueno Silva’s win over Holm will be overturned and she will receive some form of suspension, but the final decision hasn’t been made. Peña (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is happy to cast judgement over her fellow women’s bantamweight contender, though, and took to social media to put Bueno Silva on blast (via X):

#CHEATara, living up to your nickname.
Back to being a curtain jerker of an Apex card you go. You fought two 41yr olds this year and you had to cheat in order to get it done. Can’t pass a #drugtest?
Keep my name out of your mouth ya dumb broad!

Prior to the latest development, Peña and Bueno Silva were both in the running to fight for the vacant 135-pound belt, which was relinquished when Amanda Nunes retired from MMA in June.

It’s clear, however, that Peña thinks Bueno Silva is now unqualified to be granted that opportunity.

Macy Chiasson hopes for UFC 295 vs. whichever top contender left out of title picture

UFC contender Macy Chiasson is ready to take on whoever misses out of the vacant bantamweight title fight.

DALLAS – [autotag]Macy Chiasson[/autotag] is ready to take on whoever misses out on the vacant bantamweight title fight.

Since Amanda Nunes retired, an unofficial three-woman race between [autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag], [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag], and [autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag] for the next bantamweight title fight has emerged.

Whatever direction the UFC goes, Chiasson (8-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) wants the fighter who doesn’t get the title opportunity. The “Ultimate Fighter 28” winner is currently recovering from a wrist injury, and would love to return on the UFC 295 card Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden.

“That would be tight. I would like that,” Chiasson told MMA Junkie. “I would really like that. I really want to be on that MSG card in November in New York. Whatever they have planned, I would love to have the opportunity to fight one of those girls that gets kind of knocked out (of the title picture).

“So, other than that, I really want to break into the top five. It’s been a long time coming, and I’ve had ups and downs and injuries, highs of highs, and lows of lows, and I’m ready to be in that position. I’m 32 now and I’ve been in the UFC almost five years, I’ve had 10 fights so, I’m ready to start pushing for that spot.”

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Putting herself in the shoes of the matchmakers, Chiasson thinks the UFC should go with former champion Peña vs. Pennington as the vacant bantamweight title fight.

“I think Raquel is up-and-coming for that title shot because she’s been a vet for a long time. She’s been around. She beat me at 145, and I think she’s deserving of that spot,” Chiasson said. “She beat (Irene) Aldana so, I think it’s ‘Rocky’s’ time to go back and fight for that title with Julianna.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.