Amanda Nunes trilogy is 'the only fight' she sees in her future, says Julianna Pena
Julianna Pena has made it clear that she wants a trilogy fight against two-division UFC champion Amanda Nunes and is upset that it hasn't come to fruition yet.
While speaking with MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn at the World MMA Awards, Pena addressed the women's bantamweight title picture. She mentioned that she deserves an immediate rematch rather than fighting another top-ranked bantamweight:
"That's the only fight that makes sense for me, and that's the only fight I see in my future."
'The Venezuelan Vixen' added that 'Lioness' was given an opportunity to regroup and make adjustments en route to an immediate rematch. She believes that she deserves to have that same opportunity, saying:
"I finished her the first time, I ran out of time the second time, and I allowed her that opportunity to make those adjustments and to go back and change those things in that camp in the rematch. I absolutely feel like the kosher thing to do would be to allow me to make the same adjustments."
Despite having some promising moments against Nunes in their rematch at UFC 277, it was still a dominant win for 'Lioness.' She earned a unanimous decision to regain the women's batamweight championship, making her the first UFC fighter to achieve double champion status twice.
Check out the full interview:
Julianna Pena's win against Amanda Nunes was the biggest upset in UFC history
Step into the booth as @VenezuelanVixen shocks the world at #UFC269 🎤🌎 https://t.co/GJiKKeiJu4
Juliana Pena's submission win against Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 is arguably the biggest upset in the promotion's history.
Nunes was the reigning featherweight and bantamweight champion at the time and has defended both titles since becoming double champion in 2018. Her dominant bantamweight title reign began after submitting Miesha Tate at UFC 200 and lasted 5 years.
'The Venezuelan Vixen' overcame adversity in the first round and managed to exhaust Nunes with her pace in the second round. Se then took her down and submitted her with a rear-naked choke to become the new champion.
There was a lot at stake for 'Lioness' at UFC 269 as her teammate and former PFL lightweight champion Kayla Harisson was in attendance and was rumored to be the next opponent. It could have been a lucrative fight for both had she retained against Pena.