Julianna Peña is confident that if she defeats Kayla Harrison at UFC 316, former double champion Amanda Nunes, who recently unretired, will decide to stay retired from mixed martial arts.
Peña is set to defend her women`s bantamweight title against Harrison in the co-main event. The bout holds added significance as Nunes recently announced her intention to return from a two-year retirement to face the winner. However, Peña claims she always anticipated Nunes` return.
Speaking about Nunes` retirement, Peña expressed frustration with fighters who announce retirement only to come back. “I hate this whole, ‘I’m retiring. I’m done.’ If you’re going to retire, stay retired,” Peña stated. She added that she knew Nunes wouldn`t remain retired, calling the announcement an act worthy of an Oscar. According to Peña, Nunes is too young and will get bored, especially seeing the attention on the upcoming Peña vs. Harrison fight.
Nunes initially retired after successfully defending her title at UFC 289. However, rumors of a potential comeback, specifically to face Kayla Harrison, gained traction after Harrison signed with the UFC in 2024. This echoes a previous situation in 2021, where a potential Nunes-Harrison fight was rumored until Peña upset Nunes at UFC 269. Peña aims to disrupt those plans once more by beating Harrison.
Looking ahead to the fight against Harrison, Peña acknowledged the challenge, particularly Harrison`s move to 135 pounds and the potential for a 25-minute contest. Peña believes her endurance will be a key factor. “Every minute that the fight goes on, the longer that the fight goes on is just better for me. I got the gas tank, I got the cardio,” she remarked.
While Peña, known as “The Venezuelan Vixen,” has openly expressed interest in a trilogy fight with Nunes, she`s unsure it will happen if she wins against Harrison. Peña recounted being told that Nunes primarily wants to fight Harrison, not her, and feels she has nothing left to prove against Peña.
Peña speculated that after witnessing the “chaotic mess” she plans to create against Harrison at UFC 316, Nunes might lose her motivation to return and instead “stay retired.”
UFC 316 is scheduled to take place on June 17 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Wesley Dunham