Thick-skinned Kayla Harrison is so over Julianna Pena’s ‘trashy’ UFC 316 trash talk - ‘It’s the worst’
by Alexander Behunin · MMAmania.comAlexander Behunin specializes in running MMAmania.com's various social media accounts, as well as covering live UFC events, interviewing the sports biggest stars and personalities.
No. 2-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women’s Bantamweight contender, Kayla Harrison, finally gets her chance to silence loudmouth division champion, Julianna Pena, in the co-main event of UFC 316 this weekend (Sat., June 7, 2025) from inside Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
This grudge match has been simmering for months, with Pena and Harrison jawing at each other since before “The Venezuelan Vixen” clung to her title via razor-thin, controversial split decision at UFC 307.
It’s mostly Pena running her mouth, lobbing accusations that Harrison’s jacked physique comes from steroids — even though Harrison is one of the most drug-tested fighters on UFC’s roster. Pena didn’t stop there, taking cheap shots at Harrison’s PFL resume and branding her a one-trick judo pony.
Harrison — a two-time Olympic gold medalist who’s been steamrolling opponents since her mixed martial arts (MMA) debut — has mostly brushed off the noise with a smirk, promising to rearrange Pena’s face with an elbow at UFC 316.
But, at UFC 316’s media day, the typically unfazed Harrison admitted this is the worst trash talk she’s ever gone through.
“I think hands down this is the most trash talk [I’ve had to deal with]. I mean, the talk itself is trashy. I don’t know if it’s good trash talk,” Harrison told reporters. “It’s trashy. It’s the most I’ve had to ensure. It’s the worst that I’ve had to endure, I’ll tell you what.
“Being a female in a male dominated sport, and training to American Top Team, you think I don’t hear shit all day every day? I walk into the gym and they are already starting to [talk]. But this is just poorly done. I’m ready to fight. I’m done talking about it,” Harrison concluded.
Shockingly, Pena tried to play the victim at the same media day, claiming she’s not the one trash talking, but merely “defending herself.”
Sure ...
LIVE! Watch UFC 316 PPV On ESPN+ Here!
CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE-DIP! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) continues its 2025 pay-per-view (PPV) schedule on Sat., June 7, 2025, with a championship doubleheader headlining UFC 316 from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. In UFC 316’s PPV main event, Bantamweight roost-ruler, Merab Dvalishvili, defends his title against former division champion, Sean O’Malley, in a highly-anticipated five-round rematch. UFC 316’s PPV co-main event features women’s Bantamweight titleholder, Julianna Pena, facing off against two-time Olympic gold medalist, Kayla Harrison, in a thrilling five-round clash. UFC 316 will also showcase a 135-pound showdown between Patchy Mix vs. Mario Bautista, as well as a Welterweight bout pitting Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland and much more! UFC 316’s start time is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (“Early Prelims”), 8 p.m. ET (“Prelims” undercard) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV main card).
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Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 316 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
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