Kayla Harrison expects Julianna Pena to call out Amanda Nunes at UFC 307 — ‘I wouldn’t want to fight me either’

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion, Julianna Pena, has been working overtime to discredit former PFL titleholder, Kayla Harrison, as a legitimate title contender. Part of that protracted smear campaign includes accusations of steroid abuse.

Maybe it’s just one of many excuses to downplay an “inevitable” ass whooping.

“I think that Julianna, if she wins this fight against Raquel, is probably going to try and be inactive and push to have Amanda come back,” Harrison told CBS Sports. “She’s trying to avoid the inevitable. I wouldn’t want to fight me either, I get it. She’s calling out Amanda, she’s saying I’m on steroids.”

Nunes retired last June, citing nerve damage in her legs.

Pena, 35, challenges Raquel Pennington for the bantamweight belt in the UFC 307 pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event this weekend in Salt Lake City, not long after Harrison locks horns with Brazilian bruiser Ketlen Vieira — a battle that is likely to determine the next 135-pound title challenger.

Harrison is the odds-on betting favorite for UFC 307.

“Julianna doesn’t have a win over someone in the Top 15 right now,” Harrison continued. “What has she been doing? She’s had two years off, coming off a loss. Now she’s going to fight for the title, she’s been blessed with this gift. Her time is coming, and more importantly my time is coming. I’ll be prepared for when it does, and I hope she is too.”

Pena has not competed since getting trounced by Nunes back in summer 2022.

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Championship Doubleheader! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will stage a once-in-a-lifetime pay-per-view (PPV) extravaganza on Sat., Sept. 14, 2024, to honor Mexican Independence Day during Riyadh Season, an unlikely mashup topped by the Bantamweight main event between reigning champion, Sean O’Malley, and sliced-and-diced No. 1 contender Merab Dvalishvili. In UFC 306’s championship co-headliner, current Flyweight titleholder, Alexa Grasso, will settle her score with fellow Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 32 coach, Valentina Shevchenko, in the final fight of their epic 125-pound trilogy. UFC 306’s PPV main card (see it here) will also feature Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes, Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Aoriqileng, and so much more! It’s must-watch action from “Sin City!” UFC 306’s start time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET (Prelims card) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV main card).

Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching action!

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 307 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPNN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 307: “Pereira vs. Rountree Jr.” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 307 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.