Kayla Harrison dominated Julianna Peña in the final seconds of Round 2, submitting her to claim the UFC women’s bantamweight championship. In her first title defense, Harrison (19-1) faced former champion Amanda Nunes, who announced a comeback from retirement. The two exchanged pleasantries before facing off.
Harrison’s aggressive strategy paid off, with relentless pressure and takedowns. Peña (12-6) struggled to keep up, never taking a step forward as Harrison pursued her relentlessly. In the second round, Harrison transitioned from half guard to an arm triangle attempt, but quickly changed to a Kimura that led to the tap-out with five seconds left.
Harrison’s victory was notable for more than just her dominance. The fighter had struggled with weight cuts in the past, and her performance was seen as a testament to her perseverance. A two-time Olympic judo medalist, Harrison made her MMA debut in 2018 and went on to win titles in other organizations before joining the UFC.
In a surprising twist, Nunes announced a comeback from retirement, setting up a potential rematch between Harrison and the former champion. Despite the rivalry, both fighters expressed mutual respect for each other’s skills, with Harrison stating that Peña had brought out a better version of herself.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/45472421/harrison-dominates-pena-ufc-316-sets-showdown-nunes