Julianna Pena says her UFC match against Amanda Nunes comes down to ‘who has bigger ovaries’

Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena fight a rematch at UFC 277. Photo by Getty Images Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes fight once again Saturday at UFC 277 in Dallas. Pena described their bout as one that showcases the two top female fighters on the planet.

She said the winner would come down to who “has the bigger ovaries. ” Two of the most prominent women in MMA compete in a highly anticipated rematch atop Saturday’s UFC 277 event at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes have fought once before.

Brazilian fighter Nunes led the women’s pound-for-pound rankings and appeared to be a near-unstoppable force up until 2021. She ran into Pena that December and suffered a shock, second-round loss when Pena submitted her with a rear-naked choke. Relive it here:With the win, Pena wrested the UFC championship away from Nunes’ waist, and now has a metaphorical target on her back.

Will it be repeat or revenge this weekend in Texas?Pena trash-talked Nunes this week, seemingly confident of a repeat result. Julianna Pena speaks to reporters ahead of her UFC 277 fight. Photo by Getty Images”Amanda and I are the two best women’s fighters in the world,” Pena said this week, according to MMA Fighting.

“I’m going to stand there toe-to-toe with the best in the world, and I’m going to give my best, and we’re going to see whose ovaries are bigger. “I’m willing to bet that that is me. “It was not long before Nunes responded.

Amanda Nunes speaks to media ahead of UFC 277. Photo by Getty ImagesNunes told reporters Thursday that she thinks Pena is “weird” — particularly because of how she behaved when they were filming a season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” earlier this year. “I just think she’s weird,” the Brazilian fighter said, according to MMA Fighting.

“We saw each other just a couple times when the fights happened, but she was on her phone, doing something else, not looking at me. “I didn’t learn anything about her,” added Nunes. “She’s in her own world.

“Pena described in detail to reporters this week the kinds of things she wants to do to Nunes. Women’s champ Julianna Pena. Photo by Getty ImagesPena amped up the trash-talk Thursday in an apparent attempt to get under her opponent’s skin.

“I am going to punch, kick, pull her hair – I’m going to bite her, I’m going to gouge her eyeballs out if I have to,” she said. “I’m literally going to do everything in there. Trust me when I say I am ready and willing to die.

Whatever it takes, I’m going to do whatever it takes. “But the UFC boss Dana White interjected at those comments. UFC boss Dana White.

Photo by Getty Images”Let’s hope literally none of that happens,” White laughed. This was White’s view as Pena and Nunes faced off for the penultimate time:—danawhite (@danawhite) July 28, 2022The animosity between Pena and Nunes increased as they were rival coaches on this year’s The Ultimate Fighter show. Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes starred in The Ultimate Fighter this year.

Photo by Getty ImagesThe Ultimate Fighter is a reality TV series on ESPN+ that follows MMA fighters who live in Las Vegas together, train, and compete against one another for a six-figure UFC deal. Contestants are coached by big-name fighters and, in the 2022 edition of the show, Pena and Nunes — who had fought in 2021 and were scheduled to brawl once again — trained rival teams. It was another chance for the women’s bantamweight fighters to eye one another up, having already fought for a little more than a round more than six months ago.

It is unclear if either got any useful intel, on top of what they had already learned in the Octagon. For Pena, she thrives in a wild fight, providing she leads with her jab. Her striking proved pivotal when Nunes was tiring in their first bout, and if she pressures her in a similar way Saturday, then a repeat result could be in order.

For Nunes, she may need to start over. She is superior to Pena in many departments and will need to rely on her speed, agility, power, and grappling, to frustrate Pena’s attempts to engage in an ugly battle. The bantamweight fighters headline UFC 277 after being co-main in their previous bout.

Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena. Photo by Getty ImagesThe UFC often elevates female competitors and Saturday’s event is no different, as Pena and Nunes take the center stage alone. It is effectively a promotion as they were the co-main event at the UFC 269 show in Las Vegas last year, introducing Charles Oliveira’s UFC lightweight title fight against Dustin Poirier.

Should Nunes secure a win, she could force a trilogy bout while reasserting her status as one of the greatest women’s fighters of all time. If Pena wins again, then the UFC may have a new star on its hands. The Pena vs.

Nunes 2 fight is one of 13 bouts at UFC 277. The UFC 277 fight poster. Photo by UFCOther fights include:Brandon Moreno vs.

Kai Kara France — flyweightDerrick Lewis vs. Sergei Pavlovich — heavyweightAlexandre Pantoja vs. Alex Perez — flyweightAnthony Smith vs.

Magomed Ankalaev — light heavyweightAlex Moreno vs. Matthew Semelsberger — welterweightDrew Dober vs. Rafael Alves — lightweightDon’Tale Mayes vs.

Hamdy Abdelwahab — heavyweightDrakkar Klose vs. Rafa Garcia — lightweightMichael Morales vs. Adam Fuggitt — welterweightJoselyne Edwards vs.

Ji Yeon Kim — women’s bantamweightNicolae Negumereanu vs. Ihor Potieria — light heavyweightOrion Cosce vs. Mike Mathetha — welterweightThe event will be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN+, and UFC Fight Pass.

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