About four years ago, UFC fighter Julianna Pena shocked the world by upsetting Amanda Nunes.
Now it seems people have it in for her again, but UFC commentator Jon Anik believes the “Venezuelan Vixen” is once again being overlooked in the anticipated match between her and Kayla Harrison.
Currently, Pena is a huge underdog, which is odd because Harrison (though having a great record) is very new to the UFC.
Bantamweight champion Julianna Peña is a HUGE betting underdog against Kayla Harrison at #UFC316 😳
Are these odds unfair on the champ? 🤔👇 pic.twitter.com/PX2C3F3e3L
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) June 3, 2025
“I just recently went back and watched Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena 1, and that’s all the film I need to watch right now,” Anik told MMA Fighting. “[Pena’s head coach] Rick Little has said, superlative to me over the years, just how mean and nasty she is. And man or woman, she is just a nasty f*cking prick, and I just think toughness, plus cardio, plus self-belief, plus just the desire to be in the trenches, right? She’s never looking for a way out. She’s not looking to tap because the going gets tough.”
Julianna Peña was THIS CLOSE to beating Amanda Nunes 2x🫰🏽#UFC307 pic.twitter.com/hQPtB3uUzh
— SU 🥋 (@Nolimitsu_) October 5, 2024
“And I think that’s what you need against an otherworldly decorated two-time Olympic champion like Kayla Harrison that has to deal with a fight before the fight, like few fighters really have to deal with. And that’s probably something that I shouldn’t say in a broad sense, but I can’t help but wonder aloud how many times Kayla Harrison is going to be able to make weight in defending this belt if she’s actually able to win it. I don’t know the answer.”
🏆😬 Kayla Harrison: “I am coming for my belt.”
Julianna Pena: “It’s not your belt. Your belt is PFL.”
🎥 UFC pic.twitter.com/spUyvTzJIq
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) April 11, 2025
“There’s not a UFC women’s featherweight division, as far as I’m concerned, right now, so there are a lot of question marks on the Kayla Harrison side. But I think for me, I’m just really encouraged by Juliana Pena’s experience, her doggedness, and her sort of — as trite as it sounds — never say die attitude.”
Jon Anik says Julianna Peña is being overlooked once again ahead of her #UFC316 title fight against Kayla Harrison:
“I just think toughness, plus cardio, plus self-belief, plus just the desire to be in the trenches, right? She’s never looking for a way out.”
(🎥: @mikeHeck_JR) pic.twitter.com/Ge63zj4UaD
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 3, 2025
