Then, a PFL champion.
Now, a UFC champion.
The first round was all Harrison, as she dragged Peña (13-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) to the canvas with relative ease.
After the fight, Harrison called former teammate and UFC champion Amanda Nunes into the cage.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 316 results:
NEWARK, N. The J. A gold medalist at the Olympics comes first. Next up is a PFL champion. Now a champion in the UFC.
For the case, Kayla Harrison has a new trophy. Harrison (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) won gold decisively at 4:55 of Round 2 of the UFC 316 co-main event on Saturday at Prudential Center by kimura-subduing Julianna Peña.
With relative ease, Harrison pulled Peña (13-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) to the canvas in the opening round. Despite the fact that the moment ultimately didn’t matter, referee Vitor Ribeiro docked Peña a point for repeatedly giving the grounded Harrison an illegal upkick.
Harrison pulled the fight back to the canvas early in Round 2, where she took Peña’s arm and torqued until she was submitted.
UFC champion and former teammate Amanda Nunes was summoned into the cage by Harrison following the bout. The two engaged in what will likely be one of the largest women’s bouts in mixed martial arts history.
After defeating Irene Aldana and retiring inside the cage in June 2023, Nunes has not participated in competition since. Nunes hinted at her impending return to the cage during a fan Q&A on Friday, following almost two years of spending more time as a mother.
Harrison maintains her undefeated UFC record with the win. In 2022, she lost to Larissa Pacheco in the PFL, which was her only career setback. Peña’s second reign ends when she loses the title. Additionally, she failed to pocket a title defense during her first stint.
The most recent UFC 316 results.
