UFC women’s bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison doesn’t believe Julianna Peña’s rise has been down to fighting ability.
Both women are in pursuit of the 135-pound belt, and it’ll be Peña who first gets a crack at two-time status before the ex-PFL champion gets the chance to realize her title ambitions on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.
“The Venezuelan Vixen,” who hasn’t competed since losing the gold to Amanda Nunes in their immediate 2022 rematch, is set to challenge newly crowned bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington in the co-main event of UFC 307 early next month.
Also in action on the pay-per-view lineup in Salt Lake City will be Harrison, who is tasked with following her successful UFC debut opposite Holly Holm with a triumph over the #2-ranked Ketlen Vieira.
The decision to grant the ex-titleholder a shot in her comeback fight over Harrison caused debate in the MMA community. And when it comes to the position Peña finds herself in, Harrison thinks the reasons are unrelated to talent.
Harrison Theorizes On ‘Annoying’ Peña’s Position
During a recent interview with InsideFighting, Harrison touched on her growing and evidently bitter feud with Peña, which peaked when the former UFC champ accused the two-time Olympic gold medalist of PED use.
“She’s annoying,” Harrison said. “I mean, she’s just low class. To me — I don’t know. I think it’s pathetic and it’s low class. She’s just looking for a built-in excuse for when I whoop her ass.”
Harrison then addressed to what extent she believes Peña’s often brash and vocal nature has paved the way for her success on MMA’s biggest stage, her tenure on which began with victory on The Ultimate Fighter way back in 2013.
“No,” Harrison responded when asked if Peña would be in her current position without utilizing trash talk. “I think Juliana’s pretty, I think she’s tough as nails, and I think she’s got a big mouth. Sometimes that’s all you need to get to a certain point.
“But eventually, you run into a bigger, badder dog than you who might have a bigger mouth than you,” Harrison warned. “So keep f*cking running it.”
Before the pair get the chance to settle their beef inside the Octagon, both will have to emerge victorious from UFC 307 on October 5. In doing so, Peña will look to answer Harrison’s claim by letting her fighting do the talking once the cage door closes behind her and Pennington.
