Julianna Pena had the prospect to start out selling her subsequent title protection after reclaiming the ladies’s bantamweight title at UFC 307 however as a substitute turned her consideration to an unlikely rematch in opposition to a fighter who’s at present retired.
Following a controversial win over Raquel Pennington within the UFC 307 co-main occasion, Pena was requested about what’s subsequent for her and a cut up display screen confirmed Kayla Harrison backstage ready to react after she defeated Ketlen Vieira earlier within the evening to earn a title shot. Reasonably than acknowledge Harrison, who the UFC is fairly clearly naming because the No. 1 contender, Pena requested for a trilogy in opposition to Amanda Nunes, who referred to as it a profession again in June 2023.
“I’ll say this — she dropped the ball on the callout,” UFC Corridor of Famer Daniel Cormier stated when addressing Pena after UFC 307 ended. “I imply Kayla’s on the display screen. Say her identify. Why no promote the person who is clearly going to be your No. 1 contender?
“There isn’t any world the place she doesn’t struggle Kayla Harrison. She’s preventing her subsequent. You may as nicely put the promote on it.”
Harrison moved to 2-0 within the UFC with a unanimous resolution win over Vieira within the opening bout on the primary card on Saturday. Whereas not as dominant as her debut efficiency in opposition to former champion Holly Holm at UFC 300, Harrison nonetheless delivered a win in opposition to one of many UFC’s prime ranked challengers to cement her spot because the rightful contender at 135 kilos.
In the course of the broadcast, Harrison may solely shake her head in disappointment as Pena referred to as for the Nunes struggle regardless of UFC colour commentator Joe Rogan particularly mentioning the two-time Olympic gold medalist as her more than likely subsequent opponent.
Cormier believes Pena ought to have began constructing in direction of that struggle now reasonably than ready as a result of there’s virtually no world the place Harrison isn’t her subsequent opponent.
“Don’t wait till the struggle is introduced,” Cormier stated. “Now you’re a step behind while you had the chance to be a step forward going into your struggle with Kayla Harrison, who would be the No. 1 contender in your championship as we go ahead.
“Tonight, it’s not like Kayla Harrison appeared the most effective. Kayla’s appeared higher. Tonight she appeared like a lady that should get takedowns and if she doesn’t, she continues to be within the very early phases of her putting. Julianna Pena ought to’ve after this efficiency been extra prepared to say her identify.”
Whereas he wasn’t a fan of her callout, Cormier did supply congratulations to Pena on changing into a two-time champion together with her win over Pennington.
As a lot because the scorecards got here into query after the struggle, Cormier nonetheless praised Pena for placing on a gutsy efficiency and bringing a title again to the identical fitness center that UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad calls residence.
“The one factor you may by no means query about Julianna Pena is her toughness,” Cormier stated. “She will likely be a deserving champion.
“On the finish of the day, she turns into the champion once more and Mike Valle and his workforce out at Valle Movement now have two UFC champions on their roster. Large for a fitness center that’s out of Chicago that isn’t a large, large fitness center.”
