Julianna Pena shall be prepared for all the massive enterprise within the girls’s bantamweight division if she regains the title in opposition to Raquel Pennington at UFC 307.
Peña (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) will return to competitors for the primary time since shedding the belt to Amanda Nunes in July 2022 when she challenges present champ Pennington (16-8 MMA, 13-5 UFC) within the co-headliner of the Oct. 5 card, which takes place at Delta Heart in Salt Lake Metropolis (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+).
In line with Peña, she has needed to “follow persistence” through the layoff whereas nursing accidents and ready for the appropriate date to come up. It’s all right here now, and he or she intends to convey the gold again the place she feels it belongs.
“Peña two-time (champion) is superior, and to win a championship for a second time is simply a tremendous feat,” Peña instructed MMA Junkie on Friday. “To have the ability to climb that get that belt strapped round my waist once more. That’s going to be fairly the accomplishment, and I shall be pleased with each (of my title wins). I believe that they are going to each imply lots to me, it doesn’t matter what.
“To have the ability to do it once more and now that (my daughter) is older and present her what all of this difficult work and blood, sweat and tears was for. All of the sacrifices, all of the dedications is what’s going to make all of it that a lot sweeter.”
If Peña is profitable in her mission to convey the belt again in her possession, a world of alternative will open up. Peña stated there’s a four-women event of types taking place at UFC 307, with former two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison set to tackle Ketlen Vieira on the principle card.
“I don’t assume – I do know for a proven fact that they instructed whoever goes to be the winner of that battle (between Harrison and Vieira) goes to face me for the belt,” Peña stated. “That shall be my title protection. So sure, that’s precisely what’s taking place.”
If it’s Harrison (17-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) who comes out the winner in opposition to Vieira (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), there can be lots of intrigue in a championship battle with the two-time Olympic gold medalist. Peña is aware of it might be a giant deal, however she stated her high desire for a primary title protection can be one thing much more important.
Peña continues to be of the assumption retired former champion Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC) continues to be focused on preventing, and he or she is merely ready for the appropriate second to return. Nunes and Peña at the moment have one win every over the opposite of their rivalry, and Peña thinks the trilogy is crucial.
“I’m hoping Amanda will wish to come out of retirement, and I’m betting she shall be there, and he or she’ll be watching very intently,” Peña stated. “I don’t imagine she is actually as carried out as she claims as she is. I believe that she misses the game, I believe that she doesn’t know what to do with herself now that she’s not preventing and I believe that there shall be a little bit inexperienced, envious monster in her saying that, ‘I can return there. I can do that.’ Her considering she will be able to beat me.
“I do know she most likely feels that she doesn’t have something to show in opposition to me. I do know that she shouldn’t be significantly keen on Kayla greater than she shouldn’t be keen on me. However my purpose shall be to get Amanda to get again contained in the octagon with me, and that would be the largest girls’s battle in UFC historical past.”
No matter what scenario arises and who the UFC places in entrance of her as champion, Peña stated she has one overarching purpose for this reign that didn’t occur the primary time she carried the strap.
“I wish to defend my belt,” Peña stated. “That’s all I care about. Defending the belt. I must get my hand raised on Saturday night time and after I get that hand raised – I don’t want, I’ll get my hand raised on Saturday night time – and after that I’ll defend my belt and I will maintain onto it longer than I did the final time.”
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