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SCMP Martial Arts

Julianna Pena expected a tougher fight from the Greatest of all Time.
The American is fresh off a second-round submission win in a bantamweight title fight with Amanda Nunes, which co-headlined last Saturday’s UFC 269 event in Las Vegas. Heading into the show, Brazil’s Nunes was considered the female “GOAT”, and Pena was given almost no chance of success.
Her victory, then, left many jaws on the floor – including her own, as it turns out.
“It was a great a moment, and everybody celebrates how they celebrate, but for me, it was like ‘OK, it’s over, it’s done with’. I was actually in shock, I think,” the new bantamweight champion, 32, said on The MMA Hour on Monday.


“I was like ‘that’s it? It’s over? Oh, man.’ I thought we were going to have more of a fight.”
While Pena (11-4) admits she was surprised by how quickly she was able to beat Nunes (21-5), she doesn’t think she should have been. According to the new champ, the fight went almost exactly as she and her team envisioned.
“I just knew who [Nunes] is as a fighter, and how the fight was going to play out,” she said. “It played out pretty spot on to the way I had practised and the way I had been training for. I shouldn’t have been surprised when it was over in round two, but at the end of the day, you’re always a little bit shocked.”
UFC 269: Pena submits Nunes in upset for the ages
Much of Pena’s pre-fight confidence in the outcome of the fight was down to her extensive tape study. While Nunes has looked nearly unbeatable in recent years, she had experienced four losses previously, and Pena and her team put those setbacks under the microscope.
“She’s a fighter that doesn’t do well when she fights against adversity,” Pena said. “When she’s the bully, when she’s the pressure, she’s great. Girls fold, they crumple.
“But when she’s being bullied and when she’s being pressured, that’s what she can’t handle. That’s what I knew was the case.”

“You see that when she was fighting Cat Zingano [in 2014],” Pena added. “Cat Zingano broke her. I think maybe in Invicta [Fighting Championship] I saw somebody else break her too.
“She’s had losses. Those types of scenarios still existed in her. It just needed a chance to break through and rear its ugly head. The only way to do that is to make somebody tired. To make them work and make them fight.”
Nunes is expected to receive an immediate rematch with Pena based on her previous dominance in the bantamweight division.
Pena doesn’t seem to have an objection to that plan. In fact, she seems to relish the opportunity.

“We can do it next, I’m free next month, two months from now – whenever they want to do it I’m ready,” Pena said at the UFC 269 post-fight press conference.
“If she wants to do a rematch, we can do a rematch. I’ve always been a company girl. Whatever they want to do – we’ll talk about that later. I just want to enjoy the moment right now.”
“Amanda’s been such a great champion and she’s done so much for the sport, so for me to take down arguably the greatest of all time is something that’s still sinking in right now,” she added.


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC: Julianna Pena expected ‘more of a fight’ from Amanda Nunes – ‘I was actually in shock’

Julianna Pena celebrates after defeating Amanda Nunes to win the women’s bantamweight title at UFC 269. Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP

Julianna Pena (right) punches Amanda Nunes in their women’s bantamweight title fight at UFC 269 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP

Julianna Pena smiles after defeating Amanda Nunes by submission in a women’s bantamweight mixed martial arts title bout at UFC 269, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, in Las Vegas. Photo: AP Photo/Chase Stevens

UFC 269: Joe Rogan says Amanda Nunes ‘didn’t look prepared’ in shock loss to Julianna Pena

Amanda Nunes is tended to following her loss to Julianna Pena at UFC 269. Photo: AFP

Julianna Pena punches Amanda Nunes in their women’s bantamweight title fight during at UFC 269. Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP

UFC 269: Dana White explains why Michael Chiesa was dragged away by police after Julianna Pena win

Julianna Pena celebrates her victory by submission against Amanda Nunes at UFC 269. Photo: Stephen R Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports

UFC 269: Julianna Pena says she is first ‘mom champ’ – not Amanda Nunes – ‘because I gave birth to my daughter’

Julianna Pena punches Amanda Nunes in their women’s bantamweight title fight at UFC 269. Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP

UFC 269: Sean O’Malley ‘tees off like Canelo’ to stop Raulian Paiva in round one

Sean O’Malley celebrates after his TKO victory against Raulian Paiva at UFC 269. Photo: Stephen R Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports

Sean O’Malley finishes Raulian Paiva via TKO during their bantamweight bout at UFC 269. Photo: AP/Chase Stevens

Sean O’Malley celebrates his knockout victory over Raulian Paiva. Photo: AFP

UFC 269: Kai Kara-France spoils Cody Garbrandt’s flyweight debut with KO, calls for title shot

Cody Garbrandt gets knocked back by Kai Kara-France during their flyweight bout at UFC 269. Photo: AP/Chase Stevens

Kai Kara-France punches Cody Garbrandt in their flyweight fight at UFC 269. Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP

Cody Garbrandt is checked by officials after being knocked out by Kai Kara-France. Photo: AP/Chase Stevens

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


New UFC bantamweight champion knew she could ‘break’ Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 last Saturday in Las Vegas
‘Those types of scenarios still existed in her. It just needed a chance to break through and rear its ugly head,’ Pena says



New bantamweight champion Julianna Pena knew she could ‘break’ Amanda Nunes at UFC 269, but admits she was still ‘actually in shock’ when she submitted the long-reigning champion.
