Julianna Pena, former UFC women’s bantamweight champion, shared details about the injuries that hampered her performance at UFC 316 on June 7, 2025, at the Sphere in Las Vegas. She lost the title to Kayla Harrison by submission, but Pena revealed a broken thumb and torn elbow plagued her camp, forcing her to fight through pain.
In a recent interview, Pena discussed her decision to compete despite the setbacks, her upcoming surgery, and her lack of regret, shedding light on her challenging preparation. The revelation adds depth to her defeat.
Pena’s Injury Struggles
Pena opened up about her tough camp.
“I was plagued with several injuries leading up to that fight, and it was not a good camp for me in that sense because I knew I was going into the fight with a pretty severe handicap,” she said. “It crossed my mind [not to fight], but it wasn’t bad enough to the point where I would have to not fight because I knew I was going to be able to push through, but I think it’s a funny thing that my coaches probably didn’t explain the severity of the situation to me. Otherwise, I probably would have thought more heavily on not competing.”
She detailed the injuries, saying:
“About the second week of May, I broke my thumb on my training partner, and it was swollen. It looked like someone hit me in the hand with a hammer, and it was really difficult to grip. It still is right now very difficult to grip and to have grip strength.”
Pena’s Elbow Damage
Pena described a worse injury later in camp.
“But then the 29th of May, I took a really bad fall in the Octagon, and I tore my elbow and broke off a ton of bone chips so that I wasn’t able to straighten my arm or bend my arm fully,” she said. “I worked on that for a few days before I left to fight week, but every day it was just worse and worse and worse.”
She added, “It looked like someone whacked me in the back of the elbow with a baseball bat. It was just so swollen, and the MRI, the x-rays showed a tear and a lot of bone chips in the back of that. So going into a fight 10 days out after having a tear like that and all those bone chips, it’s just excruciating, and it’s very painful. It’s hard to throw a punch, it’s hard to extend, it’s hard to grip, it’s hard to bend. It’s just all-around very painful. I’m having surgery for that in July, and I’m going to clean that up.”
Born on August 19, 1989, in Spokane, Washington, Pena began MMA in 2010. She joined the UFC in 2013 after winning The Ultimate Fighter 18, becoming the first woman to win the show. Pena claimed the bantamweight title by submitting Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 in December 2021.
Her record stands at 11-5, with wins over Cat Zingano and Valentina Shevchenko. Losses to Nunes in 2022 and Harrison in 2025 mark her challenges. At 35, Pena remains a key figure.
At UFC 316, Harrison submitted Pena with an armbar at 3:49 of the second round. Pena struggled with grip and striking, likely due to her injuries. Harrison’s dominance secured her first UFC title.
Despite the loss, Pena stands by her choice.
“I don’t regret competing,” she said. “I put in too much time. I’ve taken away too much time from other people. From my daughter, from my coaches, from their families. So I don’t regret competing, no. I just wish that I could have competed under better circumstances.”
Pena’s camp faced issues beyond injuries. Her coaches downplayed the elbow tear’s severity, leaving her underprepared. The thumb break two weeks earlier compounded the problem, limiting her training.
The fall on May 29 worsened her condition daily, forcing her to adapt during fight week. Her push to compete despite pain impressed many in the MMA circle.
Kayla Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist, joined the UFC in 2022. She went 4-0, earning a title shot. Her win over Pena at UFC 316 marked her first championship.
At 34, Harrison’s grappling overpowered Pena’s weakened state. The victory solidified her status as a top contender, with future fights likely ahead.
Pena’s July surgery will address the elbow tear and bone chips. Recovery could take months, delaying her return. She aims to reclaim the title once healed.
