Nunes will return to 135 pounds to defend her title against Julianna Pena, who has accused the champ of ducking her in the past.
Julianna Pena has officially trash talked her way into a title shot against Amanda Nunes.
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto revealed on Twitter that Pena will challenge Nunes for the women’s bantamweight title at UFC 265. At the moment of this report, no official date has been announced for that UFC PPV, but early to mid-August is expected.
This will be the first time the women’s double champ Nunes has defended her 135 pound title since December of 2019 where she cruised to a unanimous decision victory over #1 ranked Germaine de Randamie. Julianna Pena is currently ranked #6 in the division and is 2-1 over the past three years, with her most recent victory a submission win over Sara McMann. That and a contender fight between Pena and Holly Holm falling out was enough to lock Pena in as the latest opponent for “The Lioness.”
Fight me @Amanda_Leoa !
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) March 7, 2021
Pena has been extremely vocal about wanting a bout with Nunes, going as far as to accuse the champion of ducking her.
“Quit ducking.”
@VenezuelanVixen with a huge callout for 135! #UFC257 pic.twitter.com/zfk0G43v2k
— UFC (@ufc) January 24, 2021
Nunes’ response was short and brutal, just like this fight is likely to be:
Ducking? You couldn’t even make yourself a contender for me. @VenezuelanVixen #UFC257
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) January 24, 2021
Now through a bit of happenstance, Pena will get her wish to face Nunes. We’ll see how it goes in August. Nunes is 21-4 in her career and on a 12 fight win streak, with 7 of those being title defenses. Her last fight against Megan Anderson at UFC 259 ended via submission in just over two minutes. So to say Amanda Nunes is on a bit of a run right now would be an understatement.