UFC Girls’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña seemingly appreciated Kayla Harrison’s presence in Salt Lake Metropolis earlier this month.
Peña returned to the 135-pound mountaintop within the co-main occasion of the UFC 307 pay-per-view on Oct. 5, narrowly outpointing Raquel Pennington in what marked a broadly debated outcomes.
Harrison, in the meantime, staked her declare for a shot in opposition to the winner earlier within the night time when she obtained the higher of Ketlen Vieira to maneuver to 2-0 underneath the UFC banner.
Whereas the champ has tried to set her sights on the retired Amanda Nunes as an alternative, all indicators level towards Harrison getting her first title shot in 2025. And given how the pair exchanged phrases on the UFC 307 press convention, the lead-up might be entertaining.
“The Venezuelan Vixen” has had loads of adverse issues to say concerning the two-time Olympic gold medalist since her arrival to the promotion and within the aftermath of UFC 307. She did, nonetheless, have a uncommon praise for her associated to the presser throughout an look on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Present on Uncrowned.
When discussing the heated build-up that many predict to her possible protection reverse Harrison, Peña admitted that having a keen dance associate within the trash-talking realm makes for a pleasant change of tempo.
“It’s so refreshing to lastly have somebody that may string a sentence collectively, and that speaks the language, and that understands the sport of frickin’ — we’re fist-fighting in a metal cage and it’s vital for folks to be excited about it,” Peña mentioned. “Like I mentioned, block of wooden Raquel, the one purpose she began speaking crap out of nowhere is as a result of she’s realizing that’s what you have to do to achieve curiosity within the battle.
“You’re proper, it’s nice to lastly have someone who’s going to banter backwards and forwards with me,” Peña continued. “Now all of those ladies are beginning to perceive what you have to do. It’s like, they’re taking a web page out of my e-book to do it, and that’s nice. Lastly, someone who’s going to play ball.”
It stays to be seen when the pair can throw verbal jibes at each other face-to-face forward of their very own battle, however the UFC 307 presser definitely offered a pleasant appetizer.
For now, each girls will probably be recovering from their outings in Utah. Whereas Harrison seems keen to return to camp quickly, Peña has pointed to Worldwide Struggle Week in mid-2025 as a attainable return date for her reign’s opening protection.
