Julianna Peña is a two-time UFC champion, but while dating until 2020 in the past five fights, she endured more than a few ups and downs in her career.
At UFC 316 on Saturday, Pena is sought for his first title defense against two-time Olympic champion Kela Harrison. She enters the co-main event as a decisive underdog. Pena is here following the victory of the razor split decision over Raquel Pennington. That fight comes after losing a completely biased fight with Amanda Nunes in the 2022 rematch.
Pena also holds the victory submitted to Nunes from his first encounter, but outside of last year’s victory at Pennington, the 35-year-old bantamweight champion actually doesn’t beat others on the active UFC roster. The resume, combined with what’s on tape from the fight in the UFC, is that veteran Matt Brown confused Pena about even finding himself in this position.
“It’s almost unpleasant for Julianna to join this fight,” Brown said in the latest episode of Fighter jet vs. writer. “I don’t know how she’s going on. I don’t like talking about trash about fighters. I don’t want to put her down.
“Kayla is a legal savage fighter, she’s good, and it’s fun to watch. Honestly, I don’t know she’s in the position she’s in. She really doesn’t do anything good.
Brown believes that when Peña retracted one of the biggest turmoils in UFC history, he thrived primarily on past victory over Nunes.
No one can take that victory from her, but Brown can’t help but wonder if defeating Nunes could have done more harm than good, now that he has to face Harrison this weekend.
“What’s unfortunate for her is that she beat Amanda Nunez so of course she can get a fight like Kayla Harrison, but that’s a shame for her,” Brown said. “It’s going to get her a bit of coverage, we’re talking about it. She might get a little better payday for this.
“It’s not going to be a fun night for her. She turns around and says, ‘God, I hope I’ll never beat Amanda Nunes. They’d never put me in this shit.'” She might start thinking midway through the first round, how my life is in this situation.
Although Brown doesn’t discount Pena’s victory over Nunes, he also believes the rematch is a much better indicator of the gap between these two fighters.
“I think in the second fight, Amanda put a good stamp on it and showed it, ‘I didn’t train the first one, I didn’t respect this chick,” Brown said. “I never like that as an excuse. We should be experts.
“It’s also clear at times. (Georges St-Pierre) – Like (Matt) Serra, it’s clear who’s better. I don’t like the term lucky punch, but it just happened to appear that night.”
As for Harrison’s potential, Brown sees her as the best solution to the lack of enthusiasm surrounding the women’s bantamweight division, as both Nunes and Ronda Rousey have retired from the sport.
Brown has an absolute faith that Harrison will become the UFC champion on Saturday night, and will eventually get the division back on track.
“Khera is coming and trying to destroy everyone and show them what the real fighter is,” Brown said. “That’s exactly what the department needs. That’s what the girls MMA needs. They’re just real fighters coming and showing them their real skills.
“I thought Holly Holm had a good shot to make her go because I think Holly Holm is also a very good fighter. There was no chance. There was nothing. At one point, I didn’t think Kayla was a great person.