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UFC 316: Long-Awaited Championship Fight Set For Newark PPV
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has finally announced the highly anticipated championship fight between Julianna Pena and Kayla Harrison at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on June 7. The event will be a Pay-Per-View (PPV) exclusive.
Julianna Pena regained her title by taking a split decision from Raquel Pennington back in October 2024 at UFC 307. Meanwhile, Kayla Harrison successfully positioned herself for the title shot with a victory over Ketlen Vieira on the same card.
It’s been nine long months since their performances, and fans are eagerly anticipating the championship bout. The stakes are high for both fighters as the winner will not only claim the top spot in the division but also make history by becoming the first woman to simultaneously hold Professional Fighters League (PFL) and UFC world championships. Francis Ngannou achieved this feat back in October 2024 when he secured a TKO victory over Renan Fereira.
Pena has hinted that she might retire after winning or losing her next fight, citing her desire for a trilogy bout with Amanda Nunes. This rivalry started with Pena dethroning the champ via second-round submission in December 2021, only to see Nunes gain revenge with a dominant unanimous decision win in their rematch in July 2022. Following this defeat, Nunes went on to successfully defend her title once more against Irene Aldana in June 2023 before announcing her retirement from the sport.
Rumors of a comeback have been swirling around Nunes, and it appears unlikely that any outcome will change her plans to return to competition. The UFC may add another title fight to serve as the main event for this card, potentially pitting Jon Jones against Tom Aspinall in an undisputed heavyweight championship match-up. However, given International Fight Week taking place three weeks later, it’s likely that some of the most compelling matchups will be saved for the subsequent event.
Further details regarding additional fights on UFC 316 are expected to emerge over the next month.
