Kayla Harrison anticipates being the superior fighter in all aspects when she faces Julianna Pena at UFC 316.
Scheduled as the co-main event before the bantamweight rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley, the bout will see Harrison challenging Pena for the bantamweight championship.
This opportunity marks Harrison`s first title shot on the biggest stage in mixed martial arts, following a perfect 2-0 start to her UFC career in 2024.
The former Olympic judo gold medalist has stated her intention to dominate inside the Octagon, mirroring the performance that secured her two PFL titles before her transition to the UFC.
Harrison believes Pena will not pose a significant obstacle at UFC 316, provided she can prevent ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ from succeeding with one particular approach.
Kayla Harrison: Julianna Pena`s Only Path to Victory at UFC 316 is a `Brawl`
Harrison has displayed immense confidence throughout fight week regarding her ability to live up to her status as a considerable favorite at UFC 316.
In a discussion with Megan Olivi for ESPN, the two-time Olympic champion insisted that the defending champion has only one plausible method for retaining her title at UFC 316.
Look, she’s very unorthodox. She definitely likes to brawl. I think that that’s really her only chance, is to try and make it a brawl.
However, Harrison is firmly resolved not to let the fight unfold in that manner.
But my fight IQ, my coaches, my team – we have a plan. I’m going to go out there and implement the game plan, and stick to it, and be smart, and become a UFC champion.
How Julianna Pena Previously Lured Amanda Nunes into a Brawl
The potential risk of being drawn into a brawl by Pena at UFC 316 is a lesson that one of Harrison`s former teammates learned the hard way.
Before ultimately getting revenge in their rematch, Amanda Nunes suffered a shocking submission defeat to Pena at UFC 269 in December 2021.
Just moments into that fight at T-Mobile Arena, the crowd was electric as both fighters exchanged wild strikes. This aggressive approach led to ‘The Lioness’ becoming visibly tired, ultimately resulting in her tapping out to a rear-naked choke.
With coach Mike Brown having been in the corner for that significant upset, Harrison`s team is undoubtedly well aware of Pena`s potential path to victory this Saturday night in Newark.
