Julianna Pena 'willing to bet' that Amanda Nunes will return for 'the biggest women's fight in UFC history' if she wins the belt at UFC 307
09/30/2024 10:37 AM
Ahead of her women’s bantamweight title fight against Raquel Pennington at UFC 307 this coming Saturday, Julianna Pena is confident that with a win, she can tempt the women’s GOAT back into action.
Since her title loss to Amanda Nunes back in July 2022, Julianna Pena has been campaigning for a trilogy against the female GOAT despite the Brazilian’s retirement last year.
With Pena having not fought since losing to the ‘Lioness’, she returns this coming weekend at UFC 307 to take on Raquel Pennington for the bantamweight title.
Julianna Pena ‘willing to bet’ Nunes will return if Pena reclaims the title
Nunes isn’t the only one ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ has been feuding with, as she and Kayla Harrison have been exchanging words online since the start of the year when Harrison finally signed with the promotion.
Harrison also competes this coming Saturday against Ketlen Vieira and with a win over the Brazilian she will undoubtedly earn herself a shot at the title.
Despite that, if Pena is successful in reclaiming her bantamweight title, she is ‘willing to bet’ that Nunes will return for what she has claimed would be the ‘biggest fight in women’s MMA history’.
“I want to defend my belt (if I win), that’s all I care about, defending the belt. I need to get my hand raised on Saturday night, and after I get that hand raised, I don’t need, I will get my hand raised on Saturday night and after that, I will defend my belt,” Pena began to explain to MMAJunkie.
“Sure (a fight against Kayla would be huge) but I’m hoping that Amanda will want to come out of retirement, I’m willing to bet that she will be there and that she will be watching very intently and I don’t believe she is as truly done as she claims she is.
“I think she misses the sport, I think that she doesn’t know what to do with herself now that she’s not fighting and I think that there will be a little green envious monster in her saying that I can go back there and do this… My goal will be to get Amanda back into the Octagon and that will be the biggest women’s fight in UFC history,” she continued.
Amanda Nunes has previously teased at a UFC return
Although Nunes has now been retired for over a year, the Brazilian has previously teased at wanting to return to the UFC.
Following Harrison’s successful UFC debut back at UFC 300, Nunes posted a video of her reacting to Harrison’s post-fight speech, seemingly annoyed that the Olympic gold medalist didn’t mention her name.
Regardless of the result of the title fight on Saturday night, Nunes could be tempted out of retirement by either Pena or Harrison, with the fans salivating at the thought of either matchup.
