UFC 316 – Julianna Peña vs Kayla Harrison – Full Fight Replay Available Today

On June 7, 2025, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, UFC 316 delivered one of the most anticipated women’s bantamweight clashes in recent memory as former champion Julianna Peña welcomed Olympic gold medalist and PFL standout Kayla Harrison into the UFC spotlight. This wasn’t just a fight—it was a collision between two fierce competitors with iron wills and vastly different styles, both aiming to leave no doubt about who belonged at the top of the division.

Peña, known for her relentless pressure and unbreakable spirit, came out aggressive, immediately looking to disrupt Harrison’s rhythm with punches in bunches and clinch warfare. She threw volume with reckless determination, trying to keep Harrison from establishing her grappling dominance. Harrison, cool under fire, absorbed the early storm and answered back with what she does best—control and precision.

Midway through the first round, Harrison found her opening. Timing a looping right hand from Peña, she slipped under and executed a beautiful double-leg takedown, planting Peña onto the canvas with authority. From there, the former judo champion went to work, pinning Peña against the fence and landing punishing ground-and-pound. Peña, ever resilient, fought off submission attempts and even scrambled to her feet briefly—but Harrison’s grip was suffocating.

The second round was where Harrison truly separated herself. She began cutting angles, setting up her entries with feints, and dragging Peña down multiple times with smooth transitions from judo trips to chain wrestling. Though Peña kept fighting off her back, Harrison’s control was overwhelming. She passed guard, trapped arms, and landed a steady barrage of elbows that left Peña marked up and frustrated.

By the third round, Peña was visibly fatigued but still swinging, trying to find the shot that could turn the tide. Harrison, however, stayed composed and tactical—continuing to dominate the grappling exchanges while mixing in sharp knees in the clinch and short punches to score. Peña survived to the final bell, never backing down, but the story had already been written.

When the judges’ scorecards were read, all three were unanimous in favor of Kayla Harrison (30-26, 30-27, 30-27), marking her official arrival as a real contender in the UFC’s bantamweight landscape. It was a performance that showcased her world-class grappling under the brightest lights—and a message to the division that the Olympian is here, and she’s not coming quietly. For Peña, it was another war—one that proved her heart once again, even in defeat.