Although she is two months away from her rubber match against Amanda Nunes, Julianna Pena has started the trash talk. Per an earlier announcement from UFC president Dana White, the bantamweight rivals will settle their rivalry in a rubber match at UFC 289 on June 10. Days after the announcement, Julianna Pena had a few things to say about the scenes behind the curtains that led to the trilogy. Unsurprisingly, the 33-year-old did not have kind words about the champion.
Nunes and Pena fought for the first time at UFC 269 in December 2021. In one of the greatest upsets in UFC history, Pena submitted Nunes in the second round, snapping her 12-fight win streak. This was also Nunes’ first loss in six years, since losing to Cat Zingano at UFC 178 in 2014. Pena also made an impression with her relentless trash talk in the lead-up to the fight.
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However, ‘The Lioness’ took back control in their rematch at UFC 277 in July 2022. After a one-sided beating, Nunes took back her title. The official scorecards read 50-45, 50-44, and 50-43 in Nunes’ favor. Therefore, fans did not take kindly to Pena’s words ahead of the trilogy.
Fans react to Julianna Pena’s claims about the Amanda Nunes trilogy
In a recent interview, Julianna Pena claimed that the UFC didn’t give Amanda Nunes a choice about the trilogy. ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ said, “She doesn’t want to fight me. They told me she doesn’t want to fight me. She’s being forced to fight me because this is the only fight that makes sense.”
However, fans had a different take on the subject. They voiced their opinions under an Instagram post that highlighted Pena’s comments.
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Following are some of their reactions.
- Amanda doesn’t want the fight? That’s crazy neither do we
- Makes no sense, got completely dominated start to finish, first fight was a glitch
- You literally got 50-43’d. Delusional take
- Amanda is going to dog walk her
- Can’t wait till Nunes retires her.
- Cause she just beat the sh*t out u girl, there’s no way this fight needed to be made
- she acting like everyone wants to see her be a personal punching bag for Amanda smh
- Hate her more everytime she speaks lol literally
- Yeah she hurt her hands beating your a** last time
- Yup, that girl brain still damaged after the last butchery…
It looks like Pena has no lack of confidence ahead of the trilogy. The former champion is turning up the trash talk against the two-division champion Nunes.
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What do you make of Pena’s comments? What are your predictions for the trilogy? Let us know in the comments.