Julianna Pena appreciates Kayla Harrison’s makes an attempt to banter backwards and forwards forward of their extremely anticipated bantamweight title tilt.
Emanating from the Prudential Heart in Newark, New Jersey, Pena will put her 135-pound crown on the road in opposition to Harrison within the UFC 316 co-main occasion on Saturday evening.
Lengthy earlier than Harrison and Pena had been scheduled to scrap on MMA’s greatest stage, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ had lots to say in regards to the two-time Olympic gold medalist, a lot of it relating to the previous PFL star’s alleged PED use. Although unsubstantiated, Pena has created a major quantity of hype for his or her conflict in The Backyard State.
And whereas Harrison has usually been a fighter who prefers to do her speaking within the cage, she’s usually snapped again at Pena, suggesting that the TUF alumnus is making baseless claims as a manner of coping with her personal insecurities.
Throughout Wednesday’s UFC 316 media day, Pena confirmed some appreciation for Harrison’s willingness to return hearth after back-to-back fights with the all-too quiet Amanda Nunes and Raquel Pennington.
“The UFC does a very good job of making the most effective fights doable and ensuring the followers get what they need,” Pena stated. “This was a struggle that the followers wished, and it was the largest struggle within the division. Though she solely had two fights within the UFC, she was in a position to are available in and get a title shot primarily based on being a two-time champion and the accolades she possesses. It is sensible, and I’m blissful to welcome the problem.
“It’s simply good when you’ve any individual that may string a sentence collectively, that may communicate the language, and is prepared to banter backwards and forwards with you. It’s refreshing. Even when she was in PFL, individuals have been asking for Kayla to come back to the UFC and struggle for the title straight away. Lots of people thought it might be Amanda, some thought it might be me, however it’s me.”
Julianna Pena insists her detrimental feedback about Kayla Harrison are nothing greater than self-defense
Pena has emerged as one of many bantamweight division’s high attracts because of her top-notch trash-talk, however this time, the ‘Vixen’ insists that she’s not trashing her opponent. She’s merely defending herself.
“I’m not trash-talking, I’m merely defending myself,” Pena continued. “This all began earlier than I even knew who Kayla Harrison was. Once I beat Amanda Nunes, I noticed this blonde woman sitting cage-side, freaking out, cussing, and having all kinds of obscenities to say about me for beating Amanda and throwing a wrench in her plans.
“She’s been trash-talking me for a very long time, lengthy earlier than I even knew who she was. Her agent made a remark that she was going to win by homicide and catch some homicide expenses as a result of she was going to homicide me. Me speaking again is my manner of defending myself.”
