After it was reported Thursday {that a} potential plan was in place if Julianna Pena can’t battle quickly, a brand new hat has been thrown into the proverbial ring.
Supervisor Ali Abdelaziz advised MMA Junkie that an interim girls’s bantamweight title could also be on the desk quickly if Peña (11-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) can’t battle. Peña received again the 135-pound belt with a break up resolution win over Raquel Pennington (16-9 MMA, 13-6 UFC) at UFC 307 in October.
The choice was a extremely debatable one. Solely certainly one of 29 media members tracked by MMA Selections scored the battle for Peña. One other scored it a draw, however 27 of 29 had it for Pennington.
That’s little question one of many causes Abdelaziz thinks Pennington would battle Kayla Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) if an interim state of affairs arises. It has been anticipated that Peña would battle Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champion, subsequent after her early 2-0 begin within the UFC.
However one other fighter thinks the brakes must be pumped on the speak of Pennington in opposition to Harrison if an interim state of affairs comes up. Norma Dumont (12-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) has received 5 straight fights, all by resolution, together with victories in 2024 in opposition to Germaine de Randamie and Irene Aldana.
The win over Aldana specifically was notable for its absolute gore. Aldana suffered one of many worst cuts in latest reminiscence and was left an absolute horror present by Dumont’s hanging.
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Norma Dumont def. Irene Aldana at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas: Finest pictures
Dumont referenced MMA Junkie’s story when she threw her title into consideration on her Instagram Tales, saying Pennington shouldn’t be within the combine due to her loss to Peña.
“Hey @aliabdelaziz and @kaylaharrisonofficial we are able to do that,” Dumont posted late Thursday. “I hope they don’t settle for a battle for the interim belt with an athlete who’s coming off a defeat to Juliana. I’m the athlete with the longest streak within the class and the one one who has the bodily and technical capability to beat it. And you recognize it! So we’re going to have a extremely fascinating battle for the bantamweight class.”
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