Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Pena has expressed a strong desire to face Amanda Nunes once again following the cancellation of the highly anticipated bout between Nunes and Kayla Harrison at UFC 324. The event, scheduled for next weekend, was disrupted after Harrison withdrew due to a medical procedure addressing herniated discs in her neck, opening the door for Pena to challenge Nunes for a third time.
Amanda Nunes, often regarded as one of the greatest female fighters in MMA history, was set to make her comeback after retiring in 2023. Pena, known as ‘The Venezuelan Vixen,’ seized the opportunity to publicly call out Nunes on social media, urging for a trilogy fight after posting fan requests for the matchup on Instagram stories.
A History of Intense Battles Between Pena and Nunes
The rivalry between Pena and Nunes has been one of the most compelling in women’s bantamweight history. Pena first upset the MMA world at UFC 269 by submitting Nunes and capturing the championship title. However, their rematch at UFC 277 saw Nunes reclaiming the belt by defeating Pena.
Following this, Pena managed to regain the championship at UFC 307 by overcoming Raquel Pennington. Yet, the title shifted hands once again when Kayla Harrison submitted Pena at UFC 316, establishing a competitive dynamic within the division.
Uncertain Future for the Women’s Bantamweight Division Due to Harrison’s Injury
Kayla Harrison’s withdrawal has cast uncertainty over the women’s bantamweight division. The extent and recovery time for her neck injury have yet to be fully disclosed, leaving promoters and fighters unsure about the division’s immediate direction.
Daniel Cormier, a former two-division UFC champion, spoke openly about the implications of Harrison’s absence during an interview with Ariel Helwani. Cormier highlighted the challenges facing the promotion in deciding whether to create an interim title while Harrison remains sidelined.
“Is Kayla gone for six months? Because if Kayla’s gone for only six months, you can’t say this is an interim title fight… The one thing that you don’t necessarily need with Amanda Nunes is her holding a belt. You can just put one on her. And then the visual is two champions fighting.”
?Daniel Cormier, Former UFC Champion
“If she fights and if she gets an interim title fight, now you put a belt on her, but Kayla Harrison just fought recently. Like, does an interim title make sense?… If it’s going to be longer than six months, you fight her with the hope that she still wins, and now you’ve got two champions, both of them holding belts. So, it’s relatively safe, I’d imagine, but man, you cannot lose Kayla Harrison-Amanda Nunes because of all the questions we don’t know.”
?Daniel Cormier, Former UFC Champion
Implications of the Proposed Trilogy and Division Stability
Pena’s call for a trilogy bout against Nunes highlights the fighters’ mutual legacy in the bantamweight division, marking a potential high-stakes attraction for UFC fans. The postponement caused by Harrison’s injury and the debate around an interim title create a complicated scenario for UFC officials, fighters, and fans alike.
If the trilogy proceeds, it could reinforce the division’s competitiveness and maintain fan interest while Harrison recovers. Conversely, the introduction of an interim belt could alter the landscape, creating multiple champions that may eventually unify the division once Harrison returns.
As UFC 324 approaches, the shifting circumstances surrounding the women’s bantamweight championship underline the fragile balance in combat sports when injuries affect top contenders. Julianna Pena’s insistence on a trilogy with Amanda Nunes serves both as a challenge and a reminder of the division’s ongoing drama and evolution.
