With Holly Holm out, Julianna Pena wants Amanda Nunes fight – and Dana White is considering it
LAS VEGAS – In need of a new opponent, Julianna Pena wants the next crack at UFC women’s bantamweight gold – and her boss doesn’t seem opposed.
Minutes prior to the UFC 259 co-main event between women’s featherweight and bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes and 145-pound title challenger Megan Anderson, Pena (10-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) announced on Twitter her scheduled May 15 fight vs. Holly Holm is canceled.
Love watching these title fights. One in particular…
as I’ve just been informed that #HollyHolm is injured and has pulled from our scheduled bout May 8. I wish her a full recovery #ufc259— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) March 7, 2021
According to Pena, Holm (14-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) withdrew from their three-round contest due to an injury. With Holm no longer on her radar, Pena turned her attention to the next title shot after Nunes (21-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) submitted Anderson (11-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC) early in Round 1.
“I want to fight (Amanda Nunes),” Pena wrote in a follow-up tweet. “Get rid of 145 it’s dead. Fight me Amanda!”
Fight me @Amanda_Leoa !
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) March 7, 2021
At the UFC 259 post-fight news conference, MMA Junkie lead staff reporter John Morgan asked Nunes after Pena’s tweets. The champion didn’t seem to care who she fights next.
“Holly is off, so (Julianna) can fight Germaine (de Randamie again),” Nunes said. “I feel like she has to get in the mix again, but we’ll see. … I’m a champ, you know. I’m never going to turn down a fight.”
UFC president Dana White also chimed in at the post-fight news conference and voiced more openness to the matchup.
“Julianna Pena has been texting all of us all night,” White said. “She’s been busy tonight. Yeah, we could do that.”
Pena, 31, most recently competed at UFC 257 in January when she defeated former UFC title challenger Sara McMann by third-round submission. The win returned Pena back into the win column after an October loss to Germaine de Randamie.
As for Nunes, the dual belt holder has defended her featherweight title in two straight appearances. Her two recent 145-pound appearances came after two bantamweight title defenses against the aforementioned Holm and de Randamie, who still sit atop the UFC women’s bantamweight rankings.
UFC 259 took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card streamed on pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.