DALLAS – It’s pretty clear at this point that UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Pena won’t back down from a firefight.
Peña defends her title for the fight time against the woman she took it from – Amanda Nunes. The two are set to clash in a championship rematch in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 277.
Peña (11-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) shocked the world late last year at UFC 269 by pulling off a massive upset, submitting Nunes in the second round of their contest. Her submission came after a wild, back-and-and forth striking exchange. “The Venezuelan Vixen” won’t shy away from having to resort to that kind of fight again if needed.
“At the end of the day, Amanda and I are the two best fighters in the world,” Peña told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 277 media day. “You’re literally getting the two best fighters in the world that are going to collide on Saturday night.
“I can’t tell you that I’m going to pull a rabbit out of the hat. I can just tell you that I’m going to stand there toe to toe with the best in the world, and I’m going to give my best, and we’re going to see whose ovaries are bigger. I’m willing to bet that that’s me.”
A second win for Peña would likely put her rivalry with Nunes behind and open the door to new opportunities. Peña is confident in her skill set but refuses to look past Saturday.
“The torch was passed,” Peña said. “I snuffed it out. I’m ready to close this chapter, and I’m ready to move forward. With that being said, it’s hard for me to predict what’s in the future and what’s going to happen.
“I just want to live presently at the moment, and presently I have a bigger, faster, stronger, new gym, better mental-state Amanda that’s going to be facing me on Saturday night, and I don’t take that lightly.”
