Kayla Harrison secured the bantamweight title by defeating Julianna Pena on Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey, following months of intense anticipation and heated exchanges between the two fighters.
The former two-time bantamweight champion, Pena, had aggressively targeted the two-time Olympic gold medalist Harrison for months leading up to their co-main event bout at UFC 316. Their rivalry was unusually personal and heated for a women`s fight, contributing to a palpable tension felt throughout the Prudential Center.
Pena is widely recognized as the fighter who famously ended Amanda Nunes` dominant championship reign. However, she faced a formidable opponent in Harrison, who previously competed at a weight class up to 20 lbs heavier and underwent a demanding weight cut to meet the bantamweight limit.
UFC 316 Result: Harrison Submits Pena
Upon Kayla Harrison`s introduction on the arena`s large screens, it was evident that the packed Newark audience was divided in their allegiance. While the Olympic champion received few boos, Julianna Pena`s appearance drew some scattered disapproval from the crowd.
Pena, the champion, walked out to a remixed version of `The Sound of Silence`, but the atmosphere at `The Rock` was anything but quiet. The initial exchanges saw both women circle tentatively. Approximately halfway into the first round, Harrison successfully took Pena down but struggled to establish a dominant position against Pena`s tight guard.
A dramatic moment unfolded when Pena, fighting from her back, landed a series of upkicks on Harrison. As Harrison had one knee grounded, she was technically a `grounded opponent`. Under the ruleset used in New Jersey at the time, this was deemed a foul, and the referee deducted one point from Pena.
As the round neared its conclusion, Harrison again achieved a dominant top position and began actively pursuing a submission. With only seven seconds remaining in the round, she successfully secured the submission victory! Immediately after the fight and being presented with her new championship belt, Harrison embraced UFC President Dana White.
She also took a brief moment after her triumph to share a hug with President Trump, who was in attendance at the event.
Intense Rivalry Before the Fight
It is uncommon for a women`s fight build-up to become as heated and personal as this one, but Julianna “Venezuelan Vixen” Pena is known for her outspoken nature. She relentlessly taunted Harrison for months leading up to their meeting in the octagon, seizing every opportunity to make her disdain for the Olympian clear.
Pena repeatedly suggested that Harrison was using performance-enhancing drugs, despite the lack of any evidence to support such claims. On the other side of the heated exchange, Harrison described Pena`s comments as the worst trash talk she had encountered throughout her career.
The two fighters engaged in several intense face-offs and nearly had to be physically separated during the ceremonial weigh-ins. Despite the animosity, they maintained a degree of respect and avoided physical altercations until they finally faced off in the cage during the evening`s co-main event in Newark, where they delivered an intense battle.
