‘The Lioness’ is Back! Can She Reclaim Her Throne?
UFC 316 holds massive implications for the future of the Women’s Bantamweight Division. UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Pena will be seeking to shock the world by upsetting the heavy favorite, Kayla Harrison. However, it’s all but confirmed now that whoever holds the Bantamweight Championship post UFC 316 will have to defend against the G.W.O.A.T. After retiring in 2023, the legendary Amanda Nunes has announced her return to the octagon. With her sights set on the winner of Pena vs. Harrison, can the ‘Lioness’ regain her Bantamweight Championship?
Undoubtedly, the greatest women’s fighter of all time, Amanda Nunes, is no stranger to being surrounded by gold. Being the first and only woman to become a two-division champion, Nunes has beaten almost every legendary female fighter you could name. Wins over Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Valentina Shevchenko, Holly Holm, and Julianna Pena solidify Amanda Nunes’ resume as one of the best in MMA history. When Nunes retired from the UFC in 2023, she took a lot of fan interest in WMMA with her. Interest is picking up again for WMMA, as the UFC 316 co-main event is one of the more important women’s fights since Nunes retired, and also a fight to determine Nunes’ next opponent.
Kayla Harrison has brought a certain level of hype to WMMA that other fighters have not been able to get. With pure dominance that rivals only Amanda Nunes, a fight between the two has been considered a dream fight for years. However, despite what the odds may say, a Kayla Harrison championship win this Saturday is not a guarantee. Harrison’s opponent, and the current champion, Julianna Pena, is used to shocking the world. Pena produced one of the biggest upsets in UFC history when she beat Amanda Nunes in their first encounter. Nunes and Pena are tied at one in their heated rivalry and have unfinished business. Harrison wants to prove she is the most dominant female fighter in the world, and what’s a better way to do so than to defeat the greatest fighter in WMMA history? Regardless of who exits UFC 316 with the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship, a great fight awaits with Amanda Nunes' long-awaited return.
