Julianna Pena Urges Dana White to Book a Interim Title Fight as Amanda Nunes Lacks the Motivation to Compete

Amanda Nunes vs Julianna Pena for the UFC’s bantamweight title was supposed to be the co-main event for UFC 265. However, the fight was canceled as Nunes tested positive for COVID-19 to the ire of her challenger Pena. ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ does not buy that Nunes is infected at the moment and is of the opinion that the UFC should set up an interim title fight till Nunes is ready to compete again. 

Pena was in attendance at UFC 265. In the post-fight press conference, she shared her thoughts on the current situation and made a few bold accusations against the champion. She said, “I heard from a teammate of hers that she hasn’t even been training. Even when she was healthy and is healthy, she has barely been in the gym. So that part is frustrating for me because I have been making this fight my top priority….. And I have been doing the mom thing as well.”

‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ continued, “You know I want to take this time to say that I understand her position. She is a new mother. She wants to take that time to enjoy with her baby. And she lacks the motivation to get up for a fight when she wants to hang out with her little newborn. I get that, I was in that same position. But if you’re not going to fight in December, it will be two years since she has defended the belt at 135-pounds. We gotta keep the train moving.”

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Amanda Nunes to take on Julianna Pena in December?

Amanda Nunes is the first athlete in UFC history to hold and defend belts in two different weight classes simultaneously. However, the last time Nunes defended her bantamweight title was in December 2019, against De Randamie. Since then, Nunes has fought twice but has defended her featherweight title on both occasions. 

Pena is 3-2 in her last five fights. She has incessantly been calling out the champion for a fight and has finally gotten her wish. Recent reports suggest the UFC is going to reschedule the fight for December between the two women for the 135-pound strap.