“Force fed this horrible fight,” Injured Julianna Peña eyes on winner of Raquel Pennington vs Mayra Bueno Silva for women’s bantamweight title

Julianna Pena expressed her disgust at being forcibly made to absolve a Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva matchup at UFC 297.

“Force fed this horrible fight,” Injured Julianna Peña eyes on winner of Raquel Pennington vs Mayra Bueno Silva for women’s bantamweight title

Julianna Peña (Source: IMAGO)

Seven months after Amanda Nunes announced her retirement from MMA altogether, the title remains vacated. A new champion will rise at UFC 297. Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva will fight for the title at UFC 297. The duo will co-main event the PPV card in Canada.

Former champion Julianna Pena was rumored to fight for the title. However, she could not compete due to an injury. She went on X to mock the matchmaking. Previously, the “Venezuelan Vixen” had also criticized Nunes for retiring before their trilogy matchup. Taking to X, Pena put out a statement through MMA reporter Ariel Helwani. This is what she said:

I’m injured. I will fight the winner. My next fight will be for a title. Guaranteed. I feel bad. Not for myself. But for the fans that are being force fed this horrible fight. What a disaster...
Julianna Pena via X.
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As of Aug. 1, 2022, Pena held rank #1 in the UFC women’s bantamweight rankings. She has had long-standing rivalries with many peers, including Nunes and Pennington. Pennington, at 15-8 MMA, 12-5 UFC, has been a mainstay in the weight class since its inception. Her fight at UFC 297 will mark her 17th appearance in the women’s bantamweight division, the most in the division’s history.

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Pena will face the winner of Pennington vs. Silva. The main event of UFC 297 remains a mystery. However, rumors suggest that Islam Makhachev will defend his title against Charles Oliveira in a rematch in the main event.

Julianna Peña thrashes Mayra Bueno Silva for her failed drug test

Mayra “Sheetara” Bueno Silva will face Raquel Pennington at UFC 297 for the vacant bantamweight title. Bueno Silva has a four-fight unbeaten streak heading into the title fight. Recently, her submission victory over Holly Holm was overturned due to a failed drug test. Julianna Pena had no sympathy for Silva and her consequent excuses. She has branded Bueno Silva a cheater with the playful moniker ‘cheat-tara.’

Julianna Pena and Mayra Bueno Silva
Julianna Pena and Mayra Bueno Silva (Source: IMAGO)

Bueno Silva divulged that she tested positive for a banned substance before her victory over Holm. She has stated that it was due to an ADHD medication and not intended to gain a performance-enhancing advantage. This has brought no leeway from Pena, who took to X to slam her actions.

Before the latest development, Pena and Bueno Silva were both in the running for the vacant 135-pound belt that was vacated when Amanda Nunes retired in June. The brief suspension, however, did not derail Silva’s chances.

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