Kayla Harrison made a stunning impact in her UFC debut, decisively defeating Julianna Pena in the co-main event of UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey. This highly anticipated bout followed months of intense verbal sparring between the two fighters.
Pena, a former two-time bantamweight champion famous for handing Amanda Nunes a rare loss, had relentlessly targeted the two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Harrison leading up to their clash. The rivalry was unusually heated for a women`s contest, creating a charged atmosphere at the Prudential Center.
Harrison, who previously competed at a higher weight class, underwent a challenging weight cut to meet Pena at bantamweight, presenting a unique challenge for the former champion.
Recap: Julianna Pena vs Kayla Harrison UFC 316
As Kayla Harrison appeared on the big screens, the Newark crowd displayed a clear division in support, while Julianna Pena`s entrance was met with some scattered disapproval. Pena walked out to a remixed track, but the arena was far from quiet as the fight began tentatively.
Halfway through the first round, Harrison secured a takedown. Drama unfolded when Pena landed several upkicks from her back while Harrison was grounded, resulting in the referee deducting a point from Pena as per the New Jersey rules.
Harrison quickly regained control, moving into a dominant position from the top. With only seven seconds remaining in the opening round, she successfully locked in a submission, forcing Pena to tap out and securing the victory and the UFC title.
Following her triumphant win, Harrison was presented with the championship belt. She shared a notable embrace with UFC President Dana White octagon-side. She also took a moment to hug former US President Donald Trump, who was seated cage-side and witnessed her victory.
The Fiery Build-Up Between Pena and Harrison
The path to UFC 316 for Pena and Harrison was marked by an exceptionally personal and heated rivalry, largely instigated by Julianna Pena. Known as the `Venezuelan Vixen`, Pena consistently provoked Harrison for months leading up to their fight, using every opportunity to voice her disdain for the Olympic champion.
Pena repeatedly suggested that Harrison was using performance-enhancing drugs, despite a complete lack of evidence. Harrison later commented that Pena`s tactics constituted the worst trash talk she had encountered in her career.
The two fighters participated in several tense face-offs, often needing to be separated during ceremonial weigh-ins. However, their animosity remained verbal until they finally stepped into the Octagon for the co-main event, delivering an action-packed, albeit brief, showdown.
