Tag: Julianna Pena

Ahead of his championship trilogy rubber match with two-weight champion, Amanda Nunes at UFC 289 in June, former undisputed bantamweight champion, Julianna Peña claims she is suffering from an apparent back injury – due to carrying the Brazilian and keeping the duel-weight best “relevant”.

Peña, the current #1 ranked bantamweight contender, is slated to headline UFC 289 on June 10. in Vancouver, British Columbia against undisputed bantamweight and featherweight titleholder, Nunes – attempting to reclaim a bantamweight title

Taking main event honors against the Bahia native at UFC 277 back in July of last year, Peña, the then-undisputed bantamweight champion, dropped her title to Nunes in a one-sided unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-43) loss to the Brazilian.

However, lodging one of the biggest upset successes in both Octagon and sport’s antiquity, Peña stopped Nunes’ undefeated run with a stunning second round rear-naked choke win at UFC 269 back in December 2019, snatching the undisputed bantmaweight crown in the process.

Julianna Peña claims her back is hurting from carrying Amanda Nunes to UFC 289

And now slated to headline the organization’s return to Canada as part of a flagship pay-per-view event, Washington native, Peña claims she is keeping the pound-for-pound best “relevant” in the sport. 

“I’m a star,” Julianna Peña told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “You realize how bad my back hurts right now? My back is broken, okay, from carrying this fight and from making her (Amanda Nunes) relevant again after I beat her the first time.”

“Literally, my back hurts,” Julianna Peña explained. “We are, of course, going to be main event. I’m carrying us all the way there – like I always do.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

These recent comments from the outspoken, Peña, follows claims recently which she made, detailing how members of her team have informed her how Nunes intends to retire in the near future – in order to have children, and return to visit her family in her native Brazil.

Current undisputed UFC featherweight and bantamweight champion, Amanda Nunes has been tipped to consider her fighting future ahead of her expected Octagon return at UFC 289 in June – that is according to former champion and upcoming opponent, Julianna Peña, at least.

Slated to take main event honors at UFC 289 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, undisputed featherweight and bantamweight queen, Amanda Nunes will attempt to settle her rivalry with the above-mentioned Peña, having reclaimed her bantamweight crown from the Washington native last August.

Amanda Nunes avenged her loss to Julianna Peña last year

Headlining the promotion’s return to Canada, Nunes takes main event honors against The Ultimate Fighter victor and former bantamweight champion, off the back of a dominant unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-43) victory in their title re-run.

Dropping her bantamweight crown to Peña in what has been heralded as one of the greatest upset wins in Octagon history, Nunes was submitted with a second round rear-naked choke at UFC 269 back in December 2021. 

Attempting to set herself apart from Peña and take bragging rights in the pair’s championship trilogy rubber match, Nunes, has, however, been touted to walk away from the sport in the near future.

“People from her (Amanda Nunes’) team are telling me she’s already one foot out the door,” Julianna Peña told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “She wants to have babies. She wants to go visit her family in Brazil. She’s not focused and in it to win it, not like I am. They’re literally telling me – her friends are telling me [she’s close to retirement].”

“People that know her and are close to her and her camp, are saying she’s already one foot out the door – ‘She doesn’t want to fight you,’” Julianna Peña explained. “I believe that. I know that that’s true.” (Transcribed by MMANews)