Julianna Peña 'Not Impressed' by Kayla Harrison, Prefers Amanda Nunes Trilogy Next | UFC 307

Summary

In a post-fight interview, a UFC champion reflects on her recent split-decision victory. She shares concerns about the judges but believes she did enough to win, especially in the early rounds. Despite being hurt in the fourth round, she stayed calm and persevered, relying on her durability. The fighter emphasizes her pride in being a role model for women, especially her daughter, and in showcasing perseverance. She addresses potential future matchups, including a rematch with Amanda Nunes or a fight with Kayla Harrison, both of which would attract significant attention.

Takeaways

• 🏆 The fighter was nervous about the judges' decision, especially when hearing it was a split decision, but ultimately felt she had done enough to win.
• 🛡️ Despite getting hurt in the fourth round, she remained calm and relied on her durability and mental toughness to recover and stay in the fight.
• 🥊 She acknowledged that while her opponent came hard in the fourth round, she didn't feel the punches were significantly damaging.
• 🎯 The fighter felt prepared for her opponent, who is a veteran, but noted that she wasn’t surprised by much except for a head kick.
• 👶 The fighter took pride in being the first woman to give birth and win a world title, and she achieved this feat for a second time.
• 🏅 She emphasized the significance of winning The Ultimate Fighter and being the last woman standing, cementing her place as a true champion.
• 👧 Her primary motivation is to inspire her daughter and show her the value of perseverance, hard work, and discipline, hoping to inspire others as well.
• 😂 She joked about a fellow fighter calling her a ‘real champ’ and the playful banter they share about being champions at their gym.
• 🥋 She values having her fellow fighter, Balal, in her corner, acknowledging his support and experience, which helped motivate her.
• 🍔 After the fight, she looked forward to celebrating with her daughter by eating ‘a thousand cheeseburgers’ and enjoying time together.

Q & A

What was the fighter's initial concern about leaving the decision to the judges?

The fighter was concerned about leaving the decision to the judges because of advice from Bert Watson, who used to say that judges' decisions might make you cry. She had also heard in the locker room that the judges were making questionable decisions that night.

How did the fighter feel after being hurt in the fourth round?

After being hurt in the fourth round, the fighter stayed calm, following her Jiu-Jitsu coach's advice to 'flow like water.' She trusted her toughness, durability, and refused to give up, knowing she could still turn the fight around.

Did the fighter feel hurt by the shots landed on her while she was on the cage?

No, the fighter did not feel hurt by the shots landed on her while she was on the cage. She did not recall those shots affecting her.

How did the fighter feel about her opponent's performance compared to her expectations?

The fighter acknowledged that her opponent, Raquel, was a veteran and tough but said Raquel didn’t do much that surprised her, except for landing a head kick. Overall, she didn't think Raquel exceeded her expectations.

What achievement was the fighter most proud of after this fight?

The fighter was proud of regaining the belt and noted that she was the first person to give birth and win a world title twice. She also highlighted that winning the first round mentally was a significant achievement for her.

How does the fighter feel about potentially fighting Amanda Nunes again?

The fighter believes that Amanda Nunes retired too early and that she might miss the sport. She thinks a trilogy fight with Nunes would be the biggest fight in women’s MMA history, as their record is 1-1, and she would like to settle it once and for all.

What was the fighter’s reaction to Kayla Harrison’s performance?

The fighter did not watch Kayla Harrison's fight as she was warming up for her own, but based on feedback from her coaches, she was not impressed with Harrison's performance. She felt Harrison did not live up to the hype.

What was the fighter's experience of having family from Venezuela at the fight?

The fighter was deeply emotional about having her family from Venezuela at the fight for the first time. It had been over 20 years since she last saw them, and it was an incredible moment for her to win in front of them.

How did the fighter's daughter react to her win?

The fighter's daughter was thrilled, going 'nuts' and even putting on her doctor's outfit, saying she would give her mom a Band-Aid and nurse her back to health. They also joked about eating 'a thousand cheeseburgers' together to celebrate.

What was the significance of winning the first round for the fighter?

Winning the first round was significant for the fighter because she had never won a first round before, except for when she had finished opponents early. Mentally, it was a big victory for her and gave her added confidence.