Kayla Harrison vs Julianna Peña Full Fight – UFC 316

Kayla Harrison defeated Julianna Peña via submission (Kimura) at 4:55 of Round 2 to capture the undisputed UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship. The heavily anticipated grudge match served as the co-main event of UFC 316, taking place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on June 7, 2025.

• Round 1: The fight began with tentative exchanges on the feet, but Harrison quickly utilized her size and elite judo background to pressure Peña against the fence and secure a trip takedown. While Harrison was controlling the action from the top, Peña landed two illegal upkicks to Harrison’s face from her back. This violation resulted in an immediate one-point deduction for Peña by referee Vitor Ribeiro, leading to a lopsided 10-8 opening round on the scorecards. 

• Round 2: Harrison continued her physical dominance in the second frame, once again shutting down Peña’s distance, driving her against the cage, and taking her down to the mat. Harrison shifted her weight to flatten Peña into half guard, raining down ground-and-pound while actively hunting for finishes. After initially threatening an arm-triangle choke, Harrison quickly transitioned to side control and locked in a deep Kimura. Despite hearing the 10-second clapper, the torque on Peña’s shoulder was so severe that she was forced to tap out with just five seconds remaining in the round to prevent a dislocation. 

The historic victory added a prestigious UFC championship to Harrison’s combat sports mantle, which already included two Olympic judo gold medals and two PFL world titles. Immediately following the bout, former two-division champion Amanda Nunes entered the Octagon for an intense face-off with Harrison, teasing a blockbuster future matchup.