An interim women’s bantamweight title could come into play in the first half of 2025 if Julianna Pena is not ready to defend.
After Peña (11-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) reclaimed the 135-pound belt with a split decision win over Raquel Pennington (16-9 MMA, 13-6 UFC) at UFC 307 in October, all signs pointed to his first defense coming against two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC).
The champ’s health has created a hiccup in the UFC’s desired timeline, however, and according to Harrison’s manager Ali Abdelaziz of Dominance MMA, the potential of an interim title being introduced is on the table.
“This is what I have been told: Julianna Peña, if she’s not ready to fight Kayla, she might have some health problems – it’s going to be an interim title,” Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie. “One hundred percent, this is what’s going to happen. The UFC is just not going to hold the division because someone doesn’t want to fight or is injured. If you are out more than eight, nine months then UFC should make an interim title. And I love that.
“I don’t think any division should be held because someone is injured. If you as the champion defend your title a lot, I think you get this courtesy. But if you just became the champion and want to take a year off, I don’t think you should get this courtesy.”
Should the situation proceed as Abdelaziz is hinting, he said there’s only one logical opponent that would make sense, and that’s former champion Pennington, who many believe was the rightful winner of the UFC 307 fight with Peña.
“I think 100 percent (Pennington),” Abdelaziz said. “This is what she deserves. I’m not the matchmakers. There’s a guy from Houston, Texas, named Mick Maynard who does that and it’s his job.”
