Kayla Harrison became the UFC bantamweight champion by defeating Julianna Peña and is now set to face the returning Amanda Nunes, with both fighters eager to enhance their legacies in a highly anticipated matchup.
Kayla Harrison just bulldozed through Julianna Peña to snag the UFC championship. Now, she’s eyeing a showdown with the iconic Amanda Nunes.
This clash between Harrison and Nunes, two titans of women’s MMA and former teammates at American Top Team, has been a hot topic for years. The dream seemed dashed when Nunes retired in 2023. But with Harrison’s victory at UFC 316 and Nunes hinting at a return, the epic battle is back on the table.
In her post-fight interview, Harrison didn’t hold back. She called out Nunes, who was watching from the sidelines at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The two shared a friendly faceoff, each eager to cement their legacy with a win in this much-anticipated matchup.
Adding UFC gold to her collection, Harrison already boasts two Olympic judo golds and two PFL featherweight titles. Can she topple the returning “Lioness”? Everyone’s buzzing to find out.
Social media’s been on fire with reactions. Fighters and fans alike are hyped. Check out some of the tweets below.
Terrance McKinney tweeted, “Damn shawty is stronger than a motherfucker.” Tracy Cortez chimed in with, “Congratulations Kayla! Incredible accomplishments, very admirable!”
Megan Anderson couldn’t hold back her excitement, tweeting, “Kayla Harrison, ladies and gentlemen! And New UFC women’s bantamweight champion in absolute dominate fashion!” Cody Durden added, “And new!!! Olympic gold medalist x2, and Undisputed UFC woman’s Bantamweight champ!”
Manel Kape simply stated, “No words for Kayla best female athlete!” Meanwhile, Alex Chambers expressed, “Can’t wait to see the goat @Amanda_Leoa in there with Kayla. Congrats. What a statement for women’s MMA.”
The stage is set. Let’s see what unfolds!