“Won’t be touched” Julianna Pena confident she can outperform Amanda Nunes in every aspect in their rubber match
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Pena has called for an immediate rematch to settle the differences between her and Nunes
Julianna Pena can’t wait to prove herself once again against Amanda Nunes. The former bantamweight champion and TUF winner, was soundly beaten by Nunes in their rematch at UFC 277.
In their last faceoff, at UFC 269, Pena walked out tall having become the first person to defeat Amanda Nunes in 8 years and becoming only the 5th bantamweight champion in UFC women’s history. She did this by utilising her jabs to ultimately trip the champion and gain a submission victory.
In the rematch however, Amanda was crisp in everything and even changed her stance to South paw, something she’s never done before to completely avoid the threat of the dipping jab. Now Pena believes she has a lot to prove in their upcoming rubber match.
Pena was present at UFC Vegas 59, to show her support to her TUF Team, 3 of whom were among the four finalists fighting at the Apex. It was here she revealed her intentions to get done with the trilogy before the end of the year.
Julianna Pena eager to end Amanda Nunes trilogy by this year
Admitting that she was completely caught off guard by Nunes’s stance switches the former champion promised to overcome that the next time they face, she instead took the trouble Amanda went through to learn fighting out of South paw as a compliment to her abilities. She said, “When someone has entirely revamped and completely switched their entire stance, and their entire fighting style because of me, I take that as a complement, you know?”
Pena then continued, “I think that if you give me time to get ready for both stances of Amanda, she doesn’t touch me next time. I’m just really hoping that she heals up and that she’s able to get back in there before the end of the year because I’ll absolutely be ready for that trilogy fight.” Preparing for everything during a fight is a camp and athletes responsibility, failure to do so shouldn’t warrant immediate rematches over hypothetical improvements.
Pena then took the precious mic time to keep the rivalry going by piinting out Nunes was absent from her team’s corner, she said, “You left your girl hanging out there. I showed up for Team Peña, she didn’t show up for Team Nunes. I’m here, I’m ready to go Round 8.”
Julliana Miller and Mohammad Usman, both from team Pena emerged as the winners for this season of TUF. Meanwhile Pena was defeated soundly by Nunes, with one scorecard reflecting 50-43 in favour of the Brazilian. Nunes also scored 3 knockdoens in a single round, a UFC record.
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Jerin Mathew
(713 Articles Published)