Julianna Peña, after reclaiming the bantamweight title at UFC 307, controversially called for a trilogy fight against retired Amanda Nunes instead of promoting a likely matchup with top contender Kayla Harrison, drawing criticism from UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier.
Julianna Peña, fresh off reclaiming the bantamweight title at UFC 307, had a golden opportunity. She could’ve started hyping her next title defense. But instead? She turned her gaze to an unexpected rematch with a retired fighter.
In the aftermath of a hotly debated victory over Raquel Pennington in the co-main event, Peña faced questions about her future. Meanwhile, Kayla Harrison, who had just bested Ketlen Vieira for a title shot, appeared on a split screen backstage. Yet Peña bypassed acknowledging Harrison, the UFC’s clear No. 1 contender, and instead called out Amanda Nunes, who hung up her gloves in June 2023.
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier didn’t hold back. “She dropped the ball on the callout,” he said post-fight. With Harrison right there on-screen, why not mention her? Why not sell the fight that everyone knows is coming?
“There’s no world where she doesn’t face Kayla Harrison next,” Cormier insisted. “Might as well start selling it now.”
Harrison’s unanimous decision win over Vieira marked her second UFC victory, solidifying her status as a top contender at 135 pounds. Although not as dominating as her debut against Holly Holm at UFC 300, she still proved herself against a formidable opponent.
Watching from backstage, Harrison could only shake her head as Peña ignored the obvious matchup. Even Joe Rogan highlighted Harrison as the likely next challenger.
Cormier believes Peña should’ve seized this moment to build anticipation for their inevitable clash. “Don’t wait until it’s official,” he advised. “Be proactive.”
“Tonight wasn’t Kayla’s best showing,” Cormier noted. “Her striking needs work if takedowns don’t come easy.” He felt Peña missed an opportunity to capitalize on this performance by calling out Harrison.
Despite his critique, Cormier congratulated Peña on becoming a two-time champion. The scorecards may have sparked debate, but he lauded her grit and determination.
“The one thing you can never question about Julianna Peña is her toughness,” Cormier praised. “She’s earned that belt.”
With this victory, Peña brought another championship home to Valle Flow Striking, sharing glory with UFC welterweight champ Belal Muhammad. Quite a feat for a gym out of Chicago that’s not exactly sprawling or grandiose!