September 27, 2024 6:50 pm ET
Julianna Pena shall be prepared for all the large enterprise within the ladies’s bantamweight division if she regains the title in opposition to Raquel Pennington at UFC 307.
Peña (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) will return to competitors for the primary time since shedding the belt to Amanda Nunes in July 2022 when she challenges present champ Pennington (16-8 MMA, 13-5 UFC) within the co-headliner of the Oct. 5 card, which takes place at Delta Middle in Salt Lake Metropolis (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+).
Based on Peña, she has needed to “observe endurance” throughout the layoff whereas nursing accidents and ready for the correct date to come up. It’s all right here now, and he or she intends to convey the gold again the place she feels it belongs.
“Peña two-time (champion) is superior, and to win a championship for a second time is simply a tremendous feat,” Peña advised MMA Junkie on Friday. “To have the ability to climb that get that belt strapped round my waist once more. That’s going to be fairly the accomplishment, and I shall be pleased with each (of my title wins). I believe that they’ll each imply rather a lot to me, it doesn’t matter what.
“To have the ability to do it once more and now that (my daughter) is older and present her what all of this difficult work and blood, sweat and tears was for. All of the sacrifices, all of the dedications is what’s going to make all of it that a lot sweeter.”
If Peña is profitable in her mission to convey the belt again in her possession, a world of alternative will open up. Peña stated there’s a four-women match of kinds happening at UFC 307, with former two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison set to tackle Ketlen Vieira on the principle card.
“I don’t assume – I do know for a incontrovertible fact that they advised whoever goes to be the winner of that struggle (between Harrison and Vieira) goes to face me for the belt,” Peña stated. “That shall be my title protection. So sure, that’s precisely what’s occurring.”
If it’s Harrison (17-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) who comes out the winner in opposition to Vieira (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), there can be loads of intrigue in a championship struggle with the two-time Olympic gold medalist. Peña is aware of it will be a giant deal, however she stated her prime choice for a primary title protection can be one thing much more vital.
Peña continues to be of the idea retired former champion Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC) continues to be curious about preventing, and he or she is merely ready for the correct second to return. Nunes and Peña presently have one win every over the opposite of their rivalry, and Peña thinks the trilogy is crucial.
“I’m hoping Amanda will need to come out of retirement, and I’m betting she shall be there, and he or she’ll be watching very intently,” Peña stated. “I don’t consider she is really as performed as she claims as she is. I believe that she misses the game, I believe that she doesn’t know what to do with herself now that she’s not preventing and I believe that there shall be a bit of inexperienced, envious monster in her saying that, ‘I can return there. I can do that.’ Her considering she will be able to beat me.
“I do know she most likely feels that she doesn’t have something to show in opposition to me. I do know that she just isn’t notably keen on Kayla greater than she just isn’t keen on me. However my purpose shall be to get Amanda to get again contained in the octagon with me, and that would be the greatest ladies’s struggle in UFC historical past.”
No matter what state of affairs arises and who the UFC places in entrance of her as champion, Peña stated she has one overarching purpose for this reign that didn’t occur the primary time she carried the strap.
“I need to defend my belt,” Peña stated. “That’s all I care about. Defending the belt. I have to get my hand raised on Saturday evening and after I get that hand raised – I don’t want, I’ll get my hand raised on Saturday evening – and after that I’ll defend my belt and I will maintain onto it longer than I did the final time.” For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 307.
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