Two-time UFC women's bantamweight champion Julianna Pena makes the first title defense of her second reign when she collides with 2019 and 2021 PFL women's lightweight Champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo, Kayla Harrison, in the co-main event of UFC 316 this Saturday. Pena, the first woman to win The Ultimate Fighter, reclaimed the bantamweight title last October after losing it to Amanda Nunes, but is a huge underdog against the streaking No. 1 contender, Harrison. The pair is primed to deliver a combative contest in the octagon following a tense face-off in the press conference. The winner may face former champion Amanda Nunes, who has hinted at coming out of retirement to challenge for the title.
Bet on Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison with Bet365
- MMA: Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison, UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship
- Where to watch: ESPN PPV, DAZN PPV, Supersport, Disney+, UFC Fight Pass, ESPN+
- Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Date: 07.06. 2025, 22:00 ET
Julianna Pena
The veteran Champion Julianna Pena had to call upon all her experience and resources to reclaim the 135-pound title with a split decision win over Raquel Pennington last year. The 35-year-old, a former winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate, first claimed the title in late 2021 with a surprise submission of Nunes in a massive upset of the year. "The Venezuelan Vixen" has been active in the bantamweight class since 2013 and is currently number 3 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings. Pena has a background in kickboxing and is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
Tale of the Tape
- Age - 35
- Height - 5'7"
- Reach - 69"
- Weight - 135 lbs (61 kg)
- Record - 12-5
Kayla Harrison
Two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison has a title shot three fights into her UFC tenure. Last year, the former two-time PFL women's lightweight tournament winner won the UFC.com award for the best newcomer of the first half of 2024. Kayla won gold medals in Judo at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Transitioning to mixed martial arts in 2018, Harrison clinched the 2019 PFL Women's Lightweight tournament and repeated the feat in 2021. Her sole MMA loss was against Larissa Pacheco in the 2022 PFL final. Kayla Harrison submitted Holly Holm on her UFC debut in April 2024, before a decision win over Ketlen Vieira rounded off a successful debut year.
Tale of the Tape
- Age - 34
- Height - 5'8"
- Reach - 66"
- Weight - 135 lbs (61 kg)
- Record - 18-1
Betting odds
Champion Julianna Pena is a 5.9 underdog on 1xbet, which has Kayla Harrison by submission at 3 odds. Over 3.5 rounds is 1.75 on Betway, with the under at 1.59. Bet365 has Julianna Pena by decision at 13.00 and the fight to go the distance at 2.65. Read more here.
Bet on Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison with Bet365
