- Raquel Pennington doesn’t want Kayla Harrison to get a title shot with if she ends up winning at UFC 300
- “Rocky” thinks Julianna Pena should be her next title challenger
Raquel Pennington let everybody know about her thoughts on Kayla Harrison’s chances of getting a title shot.
No skipping the line in Raquel’s division
Speaking to Lowkick MMA, the reigning women’s bantamweight champion explained why she isn’t in favor of UFC newcomer Kayla Harrison possibly earning a shot at the gold with a win at UFC 300. For “Rocky,” Julianna Pena is the rightful candidate and Harrison should earn her stripes like everybody else.
“In my mind it’s Julianna Pena. That’s what me and my team are preparing for, and it makes sense.” Pennington said when asked who should be her next challenger. “It’s tough because the UFC does business how they want to do business. Obviously, you have Kayla Harrison who just signed to the UFC. They do have a habit of when someone has a big name, they like to fast track them.”
“So I wouldn’t be surprised after UFC 300 next month if Kayla wins, if a phone call is a lot different after that fight. But we’ll see. For me, I think it’s Julianna. I personally, just from having to grind from the bottom up, never being handed anything, there’s a lot of women in this division who have been busting their ass for years and years. They’re wanting opportunities, I do not find it fair,” she continued.
“I get the business aspect of it. But I do not find it fair when an athlete comes in and just because they have a big name, they get to skip the line… I love the challenges out there… but I will have a bitter taste if they do wanna make her skip the line ant it takes away from the opportunity of all these other women,” she concluded.
Julianna has been itching to reclaim the belt
Without a doubt, Pena has been itching to step inside the Octagon and reclaim her throne. Right after Pennington captured the bantamweight title at UFC 297, “The Venezuelan Vixen” already insisted that she would return and take back what’s hers. Pena said she is returning to fight for the belt probably in June.
As for Harrison, it is yet to be known what lies ahead of her in the UFC as it would all depen on the result of her showdown with Holly Holm after UFC 300.
