Kayla Harrison claimed the UFC title, defeating Julianna Pena on Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey, following months of intense rivalry.
Former champion Pena, known for her aggressive approach, had relentlessly targeted the two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Harrison in the months leading up to their highly anticipated co-main event at UFC 316. The exchange between the two fighters was notably personal and intense, creating a charged atmosphere at the Prudential Center.
Pena is famously known for her upset victory over the dominant Amanda Nunes. However, facing Harrison, who previously competed at higher weight classes and underwent a significant weight cut to make the bantamweight limit, presented a unique challenge.
UFC 316: Harrison vs Pena Fight Result
As Kayla Harrison appeared on the arena screens, the Newark crowd showed a clear division in support. While the Olympic champion received a mostly positive reaction, Julianna Pena was met with scattered boos when she was shown.
Pena entered to a remixed “Sound of Silence”, but the arena, nicknamed “The Rock”, was anything but quiet during the tentative opening exchanges. About halfway through the first round, Harrison secured a takedown but found it difficult to inflict significant damage against Pena`s tight guard.
Controversy arose when Pena, fighting from her back, landed several upkicks on Harrison. As Harrison had one knee on the canvas, she was considered a “grounded opponent” under New Jersey`s specific rules. The referee deemed this a significant foul and deducted a point from Pena.
As the round neared its end, Harrison again achieved a dominant position on the ground and actively sought a submission. With just seven seconds remaining, she secured the submission victory! Following the fight, Harrison was presented with her championship belt and shared a notable embrace with UFC President Dana White.
After celebrating her win, she also took a moment to embrace former US President Donald Trump, who was among the attendees.
Heated Build-Up Preceded the Fight
While women`s fights don`t always feature such intense personal animosity beforehand, Julianna “Venezuelan Vixen” Pena is known for her provocative style. She consistently taunted Harrison for months leading up to their clash, openly expressing her dislike for the Olympic medalist at every opportunity.
Pena repeatedly hinted that Harrison might be using performance-enhancing drugs, though no evidence supported these claims. Harrison, in turn, stated that Pena`s pre-fight comments were the most unpleasant trash talk she had encountered in her career.
The rivalry culminated in several intense face-offs where the fighters had to be separated, particularly at the ceremonial weigh-ins. However, they managed to keep their interactions strictly verbal until they finally entered the octagon in Newark for their co-main event showdown.
