UFC commentator Jon Anik isn`t making a definitive prediction about whether Julianna Pena will reclaim the women`s bantamweight title at UFC 316. However, he firmly believes her upcoming bout against Kayla Harrison this Saturday night is considerably more competitive than the current betting odds and general fan sentiment suggest.
Anik, set to call the action alongside Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier, has witnessed Pena`s career closely and knows she`s a fighter who can never be counted out. A prime example is “The Venezuelan Vixen`s” stunning upset victory to initially capture the title almost four years ago, one of the biggest shocks in UFC history.
Recalling that historic moment, Anik stated, “I just recently went back and watched [Amanda Nunes] vs. Julianna Pena 1 [at UFC 269], and that’s all the film I need to watch right now.” He added that Pena`s head coach, Rick Little, has consistently emphasized Pena`s aggressive and relentless nature over the years. Anik used strong terms to describe her toughness, highlighting her combination of resilience, cardio, self-belief, and a genuine willingness to endure difficult situations in the octagon.
“She’s never looking for a way out. She’s not looking to tap because the going gets tough,” Anik explained. He sees these qualities as essential when facing a highly decorated opponent like two-time Olympic champion Kayla Harrison, who also faces significant challenges beyond the fight itself. Anik openly wondered about Harrison`s ability to consistently make the bantamweight limit, especially considering the lack of a established UFC women`s featherweight division.
“There are a lot of question marks on the Kayla Harrison side,” Anik conceded, but emphasized his confidence in Pena`s proven experience, tenacity, and, as he put it, her “never say die attitude,” which he believes is genuine despite sounding like a cliché.
Pena secured her second reign as champion by defeating Raquel Pennington via decision at UFC 307 last October. Harrison also competed on that same card, making her second UFC appearance after a highly successful career in the PFL, earning a unanimous decision win over Ketlen Vieira.
The build-up to their clash has been intense, with Pena engaging in consistent trash talk, notably accusing Harrison of using steroids throughout her career – a claim Harrison has recently addressed publicly.
While some observers find Pena`s style of promoting fights somewhat awkward or “cringy,” Anik views it as part of a deliberate strategy on her part.
Anik also praised Pena`s in-fight abilities. “I don’t know if Julianna Pena can shoot a basketball, but she looks really athletic at times in there,” he remarked. He specifically pointed to her accuracy in crucial moments during her first fight with Amanda Nunes, suggesting that Pena possesses the capacity to create a single, impactful moment that could fundamentally change the direction of the fight.
Acknowledging Harrison`s status as a significant betting favorite, potentially even an excessive one at 6-to-1 odds, Anik reiterated his core point: Julianna Pena has a history of being counted out, and it`s happening again. Despite potential criticisms of her pre-fight demeanor, Anik personally appreciates her confidence and promotional style, concluding that the primary challenge for Pena isn`t her own ability or mindset, but simply the exceptionally high skill level of her opponent.
Another prominent storyline surrounding this fight is the potential return of Amanda Nunes, the former two-division champion who retired after defending her bantamweight title against Irene Aldana in June 2023. Nunes has a 1-1 record against Pena, and a hypothetical matchup against Harrison has been a topic of discussion among fans and analysts for years.
Anik speculated that a Nunes comeback likely hinges on the outcome of the Pena-Harrison fight. He believes there`s limited upside for Nunes in a third fight against Pena, beyond financial gain. “I think it would be the Kayla Harrison fight that would… get her off the couch, so to speak,” Anik suggested.
However, he also discussed the potential downsides of a return, particularly in terms of legacy. Comparing it to the pressure on sports teams defending championships, Anik questioned whether legacy motivation – especially as fighters like Zhang Weili and Valentina Shevchenko strengthen their claims for greatest women`s MMA fighter of all time – or financial incentives would ultimately drive Nunes` decision. He noted that Nunes` status as the GOAT has faced significant challenges from Weili and Shevchenko over the past year.
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