Top ranked bantamweights Holly Holm and Julianna Pena will meet at a UFC event on May 8.
A women’s bantamweight fight between top contenders Holly Holm and Julianna Pena is being targeted for a UFC event on May 8.
ESPN first reported the news, though the UFC is yet to officially announce the fight.
Holm (14-5) won decisions in 2020 against Raquel Pennington and Irene Aldana. “The Preacher’s Daughter” had a shot at reclaiming the bantamweight title in 2019, but was knocked out by current two-weight champion Amanda Nunes. Holm had a brief spell at 145-pounds but hasn’t fought at that weight class since losing to Cris Cyborg in 2017.
Pena (10-4) has gone 2-1 since returning to the sport after a lengthy two-year layoff. “The Venezuelan Vixen” defeated the inaugural flyweight champion Nicco Montano in her 2019 comeback fight, but lost her next outing to Germaine De Randamie. Pena most recently defeated Sara McMann by submission at UFC 257 last month.
With Nunes set to defend her featherweight title against Megan Anderson at UFC 259 next month, the winner of this fight could determine the next title challenger at 135-pounds.