Women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Pena put her title on the line in a highly anticipated match against No. 2 ranked contender Kayla Harrison. The two met in Saturday’s UFC 316 co-main event at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Pena, a two-time bantamweight champion, won back the title in her last fight, defeating Raquel Pennington in a controversial decision last October. She first became the 135-pound titleholder by beating the great Amanda Nunes in December 2021.
Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo, made her octagon debut at UFC 300 against former champion Holly Holm. She demolished “The Preacher’s Daughter.” She picked up a win over Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 to earn the title fight. She hoped to add a UFC belt to her two PFL lightweight championships.
Harrison took the center of the cage and the two pawed with their jabs in the opening moments. Harrison inched forward and delivered a kick to the body. Harrison closed the distance and clinched. She secured a takedown and landed in side control. Harrison postured up and dropped in with a right hand. Pena held on from the bottom. Pena delivered two illegal upkicks. The referee took a point. The fight was restarted standing. Pena landed a jab. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-8 for Harrison.
Harrison delivered a leg kick to start the second. She pressed forward and landed a kick to the body. Harrison closed the distance behind an elbow and clinched. Pena defended along the fence. Harrison delivered knees to the body before dragging Pena to the canvas. Harrison delivered punches to the body. Pena worked to isolate an arm but ate an elbow. She rolled to her knees and Harrison worked to take her back. Pena rolled to her back and Harrison worked in half guard. He applied an arm-triangle choke but let it go. Harrison isolated an arm and locked on a kimura. Pena was forced to tap out. Kayla Harris is the new UFC women’s bantamweight champion.
The official time of the stoppage was of the second round.
