How Julianna Peña Earned Her UFC 307 Title Shot
Julianna Peña challenged Raquel Pennington for the bantamweight title at UFC 307 on October 5, 2024, and won a split decision to reclaim the championship. Peña later lost the title to Kayla Harrison at UFC 316 in June 2025.
Peña’s Recent History
Peña had not fought since losing the 2022 rematch to Amanda Nunes when she challenged Pennington in October 2024. She won the title by split decision. In June 2025, Kayla Harrison submitted Peña by kimura in the second round and took the belt.
The State of the Division
The women’s bantamweight division has been described as a “ghost town” by Peña herself. With Nunes retired and few clear contenders, the UFC had limited options for title challengers. Peña’s previous reign as champion and her upset victory over Nunes give her some credibility in this thin division.
Promotional Value
Peña has shown herself to be a strong promoter and embraces the spotlight. She has criticized current champion Raquel Pennington for not being more active in promoting the division, stating:
“Raquel has not been a good representation of the women’s bantamweight division. She has not promoted. She has said no to ‘Embedded.’ She has constantly done everything that she can to avoid being the face of women’s MMA.
This willingness to promote fights and engage with media could be a factor in the UFC’s decision to grant her a title shot.
The Altitude Factor
One interesting subplot to this fight is the issue of altitude. The event takes place in Salt Lake City, and Pennington, who trains in Colorado, believes Peña’s decision not to arrive early to acclimate could be a mistake. Peña, however, is confident in her conditioning and doesn’t see it as an issue.
Is It Deserved?
While Peña’s inactivity and recent loss might suggest she doesn’t deserve an immediate title shot, the lack of clear contenders in the division and her previous reign as champion make her a logical choice. Her ability to promote fights and generate interest also works in her favor.
The title-shot debate is now historical: Peña beat Pennington by split decision at UFC 307, becoming a two-time champion, then lost the belt to Harrison at UFC 316. The UFC’s official record lists both results.
Sources: Julianna Peña’s official UFC record; UFC 307 scorecards; UFC 316 official resultt-ufc-307-185647063.html?_guc_consent_skip=1727907295
[5] https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/10/ufc-307-raquel-pennington-questions-julianna-pena-decision-altitude
[6] https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/09/ufc-307-julianna-pena-exclusive-video-not-necessary-to-prep-for-salt-lake-city-altitude-in-shape-women-title
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF17OZnfUCU
[8] https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-julianna-pena-blasts-raquel-pennington-ahead-ufc-307-title-clash-she-promoted
[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xEHNOTI6AI
[10] https://www.forbes.com/sites/trentreinsmith/2024/10/03/ufc-307-preview-odds-picks-and-predictions-pennington-vs-pena/
