UFC 316: Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison: Full video highlights

Julianna Pena began her second reign as the women's bantamweight champion by defending her throne against top contender Kayla Harrison at UFC 316. The two featured in the co-headliner of the pay-per-view event, which was held this past weekend at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

It was a highly anticipated fight, as Pena and Harrison entered the octagon with a lot of animosity towards each other. 'The Venezuelan Vixen' repeatedly accused Harrison of using performance-enhancing substances, but the latter's team dismissed her claims.

Following her title loss to Amanda Nunes, Pena made her octagon comeback and dethroned Raquel Pennington via split decision win at UFC 307 last year. Meanwhile, Harrison was 2-0 in the UFC after her exit from PFL.

From the opening bell, Harrison kept on pressuring Pena against the cage, eventually securing a takedown. However, the 35-year-old, who was standing her ground, lost a point due to illegal kicks from below.

The second round saw Harrison secure a takedown again, as she continued to land devastating strikes on Pena from above. With barely five seconds remaining, the 34-year-old submitted Pena with a tight kimura lock.

Harrison became the new undisputed women's bantamweight champion with a very dominant performance.

During her post-fight octagon interview with Joe Rogan, Harrison called out Nunes, who was present in the audience. The former double champion then entered the cage and engaged in a face-off with Harrison, citing her comeback from retirement.

About the author

Swagat is a dynamic MMA writer with a total experience of a little less than a year, which includes time in retail and sports journalism. He holds an MBA degree.

Swagat fell in love with the sport after watching the iconic grudge match between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 in early 2015. Nate Diaz holds a special place in his heart for the Stockton native’s entertaining fan-friendly style and ability to deliver exciting fights regardless of the opponent.

In terms of rule changes in MMA, Swagat advocates for making scores public after each round, adding transparency to judging decisions.

Swagat prioritizes accuracy and relevance while writing and conducts thorough research to ensure the content is fresh and reliable.

He enjoys playing football and painting during his free time.

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