Former UFC bantamweight champion Julianna Peña will not compete in the first vacant title fight after Amanda Nunes‘ retirement due to an injury, but plans to fight the winner of the upcoming fight between Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva once she has fully recovered.
Despite being a former UFC bantamweight champion, Julianna Peña will not be competing in the first vacant title fight after Amanda Nunes’ retirement. The co-main event for UFC 297, scheduled to take place on January 20 in Toronto, will feature Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva to crown a new champion. Peña, who won the title at UFC 269 but then lost in a rematch, was initially set to face Nunes in a trilogy bout at UFC 289 but had to withdraw due to an injury. Peña stated that she is still not fully recovered and will not be back until the summer.
Peña made it clear that her next fight will be for the title, and she will be facing the winner of the upcoming interim title fight. Despite not having a rooting interest for UFC 297, Peña believes that box office numbers could improve should Mayra Bueno Silva emerge victorious. She stated, “I’m going to give a little shine to Raquel because I feel like over time, she has gotten better and better. She’s definitely a durable fighter, she’s capable of being a champion and getting that belt. I would say that Raquel has the veteran [experience] on her side. But at least Mayra is a good dance partner.”
Peña and Pennington have a history from competing on The Ultimate Fighter 18 in 2013, while Peña and Bueno Silva have a more recent history. Bueno Silva tested positive for ADHD medication, leading Peña to call her “Cheatara,” to which Bueno fired back in an interview with MMA Fighting. Regardless of the outcome of the upcoming fight, Peña used the banter with Bueno Silva to make the fight more exciting for the audience. She expressed, “I want you guys to be invested in my success, my failures, it doesn’t matter. I need you guys to watch the fights because I want you guys to watch me fight.”