Veteran UFC commentator Jon Anik isn`t entirely convinced Julianna Pena will successfully defend her women`s bantamweight title against Kayla Harrison at UFC 316. However, he firmly believes the matchup is significantly more competitive than suggested by the betting odds and the general sentiment among many mixed martial arts fans.
Anik, set to call the action alongside Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier, has seen enough of Pena to understand her capacity to defy expectations. He points to her victory over Amanda Nunes nearly four years ago as a prime example, widely considered one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
“I recently revisited the first fight between Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena [at UFC 269], and that`s all the footage I need,” Anik stated. “Her head coach, Rick Little, has consistently described her to me over the years as incredibly mean and nasty. And truly, male or female, she possesses remarkable toughness and resilience. I believe that toughness, combined with cardio, self-belief, and a genuine desire to fight through adversity – she never seeks an easy way out, she doesn`t tap when things get tough – is her strength.”
He continued, “And I think that resilience is exactly what`s required against an exceptionally decorated two-time Olympic champion like Kayla Harrison. Harrison also faces her own challenges before the fight even begins, something few fighters truly contend with. And while I perhaps shouldn`t generalize, I can`t help but wonder aloud how many times Kayla Harrison will realistically be able to make weight to defend this belt, assuming she wins it. I don`t have the answer.”
“As far as I`m concerned, the UFC doesn`t currently have a women`s featherweight division, so there are quite a few uncertainties surrounding Kayla Harrison,” Anik added. “But for me, I`m genuinely encouraged by Julianna Pena`s experience, her sheer doggedness, and her—even if it sounds cliché—`never say die` attitude.”
Pena became a two-time champion by defeating Raquel Pennington via decision at UFC 307 last October. Harrison made her second promotional appearance following a highly successful tenure in the PFL on the same card, securing a unanimous decision victory over Ketlen Vieira.
The lead-up to the fight has been notable for Pena`s consistent verbal jabs at Harrison, including accusing her of past steroid use—an allegation Harrison recently addressed publicly.
While some observers find Pena`s promotional style awkward, Anik believes it`s part of a deliberate strategy on her part.
“I don`t know if Julianna Pena can shoot a basketball, but she certainly looks athletic at times in the octagon,” Anik commented. “When you look at the precision she showed against Amanda Nunes in those crucial moments of that fight, it`s promising because the fight game can hinge entirely on a single moment. If she can create one early, it could dramatically change the entire dynamic of the fight.”
“Now, we could praise Kayla Harrison extensively. She`s a significant 6-to-1 favorite, perhaps even prohibitively so, as you or I might say. But I truly believe Julianna Pena has historically been underestimated. She`s being counted out once more, and even if her approach to building the fight seems abrasive to some, I genuinely appreciate her confidence and the way she promotes bouts. I like what she says. The main challenge might simply be that her opponent is just *that* good.”
Another lingering storyline related to this bout is the potential return of Amanda Nunes, the former two-division champion who retired while holding the bantamweight title after her dominant win over Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023. “The Lioness” hinted at a comeback at the first pre-fight press conference in April. She holds a 1-1 record against Pena, and a fight with Harrison has been a dream matchup discussed by fans and analysts for years.
Will Nunes return? In Anik`s view, it likely depends on who emerges victorious on Saturday night.
“I don`t see any real upside for Amanda Nunes in fighting Julianna Pena for a third time, beyond the financial incentives,” Anik explained. “So yes, I think it would be the Kayla Harrison fight that would motivate her to come out of retirement, so to speak.”
“But sometimes, there`s just significant downside, right? It`s like going into the NBA postseason; for teams defending a championship, there`s immense downside – only bad things seem likely to happen. And for Amanda Nunes, if you`re focusing purely on legacy, as Zhang Weili and Valentina Shevchenko continue to accumulate wins and enter the conversation for the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time, is legacy enough to bring Amanda Nunes back? Is it money?
“I don`t know, but as far as I`m concerned, Amanda Nunes` status as the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time has faced considerable challenge over the past 12 months from Valentina Shevchenko and Zhang Weili.”
