In a highly anticipated bout following months of intense build-up, Kayla Harrison successfully dethroned Julianna Pena on Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey.
The former two-time bantamweight champion, Pena, had spent a considerable amount of time publicly challenging the two-time Olympic gold medalist, Harrison, leading up to their co-main event clash at UFC 316. Their verbal exchanges had been unusually heated for a women`s contest, creating palpable tension within the Prudential Center arena.
Pena is famously recognized as the fighter who brought an end to Amanda Nunes` legendary reign. However, in Harrison, she faced a formidable opponent who had previously competed at a much heavier weight (up to 20lb more) and underwent a challenging weight cut to meet the bantamweight limit.
UFC 316: Julianna Pena vs Kayla Harrison Fight Result
Upon Kayla Harrison`s entrance appearing on the Prudential Center`s large screens, it became apparent that the sold-out Newark crowd held divided allegiances. While there were few negative reactions towards the Olympic champion, scattered disapproval could be heard for Julianna Pena during her initial appearance.
The champion made her walkout to a remixed version of ‘The Sound of Silence,’ but the atmosphere inside ‘The Rock’ was anything but silent as the two fighters cautiously circled each other in the opening minutes. Approximately halfway through the first round, Harrison managed to take Pena down, but she found it difficult to inflict significant damage from Pena`s tight guard.
A moment of controversy arose when Pena, from her back, landed several upkicks on Harrison, who was technically a `grounded opponent` with one knee on the canvas. Under the ruleset being used in New Jersey, this was deemed a significant foul by the referee, resulting in a point deduction for Pena.
As the round neared its conclusion, Harrison regained a dominant top position, actively seeking a submission. With just seven seconds remaining in the round, she successfully secured the submission victory! Following the fight, Harrison was presented with her championship belt and immediately shared an embrace with UFC president Dana White.
She also took a moment after her triumph to share a hug with former US President Trump, who was present at the event.
Intense Pre-Fight Build-Up Between Pena and Harrison
It is not typical for a women`s fight build-up to become so heated and personal, but Julianna Pena, known as the `Venezuelan Vixen,` is not a typical fighter. She relentlessly provoked Harrison for months before their octagon meeting, seizing every opportunity to express her clear disdain for the Olympian.
Pena frequently suggested that Harrison was using performance-enhancing drugs, despite a complete lack of evidence to support such claims. On her part, Harrison stated that Pena`s trash talk was the most unpleasant she had encountered in her career.
The two athletes participated in several intense face-offs and sometimes seemed close to a physical confrontation during the ceremonial weigh-ins. However, they maintained a level of respect until the evening`s co-main event, where they engaged in a fierce battle in Newark.
Gareth Pendleton