"Best female athlete!" - MMA world erupt as Kayla Harrison captures the women's bantamweight title with submission win over Julianna Pena at UFC 316

Kayla Harrison capitalized on her first opportunity to become the UFC champion by winning against Julianna Pena at UFC 316.

Right from the start, Harrison was able to gain more control in the fight. She actively utilized all of the tools in her arsenal while Pena struggled to land significant strikes on her.

In the closing seconds of round two, the former PFL champion ultimately submitted 'The Venezuelan Vixen' with a kimura lock and became the new women's UFC bantamweight champion.

Check out UFC's post for Kayla Harrison below:

Several fans, along with fellow UFC fighters, shared their reactions on X and praised the new women's bantamweight champion. UFC flyweight Manel Kape called Harrison the "best female athlete", writing:

"No words for Kayla best female athlete! #UFC316"

UFC strawweight fighter Trazy Cortez also congratulated Harrison and wrote:

"#ANDNEW 👏🏽👏🏽 congratulations Kayla! Incredible accomplishments, very admirable!"

Others commented:

"She did exactly what she said she was gonna do. Amanda Nunes get ready, Kayla adding on all that weight getting hit by Nunes will make her go down & not get up"

"Who's gonna be beat kayla?!? Omg"

"She is on a whole different level 🔥🥋"

"Man that submission was nasty!!!!!!"

Check out more reactions below:

MMA world's reaction to Kayla Harrison defeating Julianna Pena at UFC 316. [Screenshots courtesy: @ufc on X]

Harrison crowned herself as the champion at UFC 316, while Pena lost the women's bantamweight title for the second time in her career. Previously, she had lost it to Amanda Nunes in their rematch at UFC 277.