Kayla Harrison made headlines at UFC 316, capturing the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship by submitting Julianna Peña in the second round with a kimura. This highly anticipated bout took place on June, 2025, in Newark, New Jersey, and marked Harrison’s third UFC fight—an impressive rise for the two-time Olympic judo gold medalist and former PFL lightweight champion.
Harrison’s victory over Peña, a two-time champion and The Ultimate Fighter winner, was decisive. Peña was deducted a point in the first round for illegal upkicks, and Harrison capitalized, earning a Performance of the Night bonus for her finish just five seconds before the second round ended With this win, Harrison improved her professional MMA record to 19-1, with wins by submission and by knockout, solidifying her reputation as one of the most dominant women in the sport.
Fans are now speculating about a potential blockbuster matchup between Harrison and the returning legend Amanda Nunes, who recently announced her comeback and aims to reclaim her former title Harrison’s rapid ascent and her latest victory over Peña have set the stage for one of the most intriguing storylines in women’s MMA.
