UFC 316 will characteristic a basic story of hero vs. villain within the night’s co-main occasion.
Ever since her surprising submission victory over Amanda Nunes in 2021, Julianna Pena has been very happy to play the function of villain. She’s taken credit score for scaring ‘The Lioness’ out of the UFC, known as former bantamweight titleholder Raquel Pennington a “dangerous consultant” of the division, and relentlessly accused Kayla Harrison of utilizing performance-enhancing medicine all through her illustrious fight sports activities profession.
‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ will as soon as once more be the antagonist this Saturday evening when the promotion heads again to Newark, New Jersey, with two title tilts, one in all which being her extremely anticipated bantamweight championship showdown in opposition to Harrison.
“I really feel like Julianna is the proper villain to make me a hero in folks’s eyes,” Harrison stated in the course of the UFC 316 media day. “Earlier than, everybody was like, ‘Oh, she’s so dominant, she’s so bodily strong-looking,’ and possibly as a result of I haven’t been within the UFC for very lengthy, lots of people weren’t too eager on me. Now impulsively, it’s like I’m America’s sweetheart—and I’m simply going to take it and run with it.”
‘Hero’ Harrison thinks she’s higher in every single place than the Villainous ‘vixen’
There’s no denying that Pena is her personal greatest fan, typically touting her abilities to anybody who will pay attention. However clearly, the sportsbooks aren’t satisfied that she has what it takes to depart The Backyard State along with her title intact.
Because it stands, Harrison is a sizeable favourite with some betting websites itemizing her as excessive as a 7-to-1 favourite over the reigning 135-pound queen.
“I simply consider I’m higher in every single place. I feel I’m larger, sooner, stronger,” Harrison continued. “I’ve acquired extra constructive expertise, my grappling’s higher, my putting’s higher, my battle IQ is increased. By no means thoughts being inside a cage—I’m a fighter in life. So, if she thinks she’s going to outfight me, she’s acquired one other factor coming.”
“She’s acquired coronary heart, you recognize, she’s a fighter—and on the finish of the day, that’s most likely one of the vital essential qualities you’ll be able to have. She’s unorthodox; you don’t actually know what’s coming. It’s a troublesome type to emulate in coaching.”
