Julianna Pena has the chance to re-write her identify again into the historical past books later this night when she takes on bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington within the co-main occasion of UFC 307.
It’s an unlimited combat for ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’, with the potential of a brilliant combat with Kayla Harrison and even GWOAT Amanda Nunes doubtlessly on the road; and followers higher consider that she’s ‘able to kill’ as a way to reclaim her previously held 135lb title.
Julianna Pena previews UFC 307 title combat with ‘Rocky’ Pennington
Heading into UFC 307, bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington stays a slight-to-moderate favourite over challenger Julianna Pena, with round two-thirds of Tapology customers choosing ‘And Nonetheless’ out in Salt Lake Metropolis.
These strains aren’t essentially a shock given how Pena hasn’t competed since dropping the title to Amanda Nunes all the way in which again in July 2022 in a somewhat one-sided beatdown.
Nevertheless, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ believes that she received’t be impacted by the dreaded ‘ring rust’ that comes from such an prolonged interval of inactivity, telling Megan Olivi by way of ESPN MMA that combating is just like using a motorbike.
“It seems like using a bicycle, when you understand how to trip a motorbike, you understand how to trip a motorbike, and I understand how to combat… I’m simply ready for that cage door to shut so I can get right down to enterprise.
“I’ve grown to be a bit bit extra affected person [since that Nunes rematch], as a substitute of making an attempt to be the reckless, loopy, wild banshee, I’m going to be a bit bit extra affected person in how I combat.”
Pennington stays the betting favourite over Pena, having defeated Mayra Bueno Silva within the first PPV of the yr with a powerful unanimous choice.
Unsurprisingly, Pena believes that ‘Rocky’ will look to increase the title combat into the championship rounds as soon as once more, though she did warn the champion to not overlook her improved gasoline tank.
“I feel that she’s [Pennington] going to kick me lots, she’s going to attempt to point-spar and run round and attempt to steer clear of me as a lot as potential… The final combat that I had in opposition to Amanda was the primary time that I’ve fought for 25 minutes in order that was undoubtedly one thing new to me.
“In preparation for this combat, I’ve undoubtedly doubled-up the cardio to ensure I’m capable of go 25 minutes no drawback,” said Pena, who’s 10-5 as an expert and 7-3 within the UFC; with two wins coming by way of KO/TKO, two by way of submission, and three by the use of the judges’ scorecards.
The favored bantamweight star didn’t go so far as to foretell she’ll earn the end out in Utah however did acknowledge that she’s keen to kill as a way to get her arms again on the bantamweight title.
“I knew that I wanted to be affected person and look forward to my alternative, I’ve been sidelined earlier than with accidents and having a child – that’s not something new to me… Once they gave me this chance and say that is the time, I’m able to seize that second and kill for it.
“I don’t understand how, I don’t know when, I’m not Nostradamus, I don’t have a crystal ball; I simply know that I’m actually going to kill [Pennington] and provides all the things that I’ve to get my hand raised.”
Julianna Pena believes victory at UFC 307 will tempt the GWOAT out of retirement
Ought to she regain her title and promotional newcomer Kayla Harrison additionally earn an enormous win in opposition to Ketlen Viera earlier on within the night time, the UFC will doubtless push to make Harrison vs Pena subsequent.
Nevertheless, Pena herself hopes {that a} assertion victory may tempt the best feminine fighter in historical past, Amanda Nunes, out of retirement for the ‘biggest women’s fight in UFC history.’
“Certain [a fight against Kayla would be massive] however I’m hoping that Amanda will need to come out of retirement,” Pena defined to MMA Junkie.
“I’m keen to guess that she will probably be there and that she will probably be watching very intently, and I don’t consider she is as actually performed as she claims she is.
“I feel she misses the game; I feel that she doesn’t know what to do with herself now that she’s not combating, and I feel that there will probably be a bit inexperienced envious monster in her saying that I can return there and do that.”
While the purpose for this weekend is to regain her championship, the long-term purpose stays the identical: “Get Amanda again into the Octagon and that would be the greatest girls’s combat in UFC historical past.”
Sarcastically, these feedback didn’t sit nicely with Harrison, who claimed that Pena is just “trying to avoid the inevitable.”
UFC 307 goes down this weekend stay from Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah.
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