Kayla Harrison vs Julianna Peña

Julianna Peña defends her title against Kayla Harrison. Peña, renowned for her relentless pressure and submission prowess, faces Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo and former PFL lightweight champion, who has rapidly ascended the UFC ranks.

Core Stats Comparison

*Edge goes to younger fighter

** Harrison only has had 2 fights in the UFC

Striking Breakdown:

Though she’s only two fights into her UFC tenure, Kayla Harrison has posted eye-popping striking numbers. She currently holds a 64% striking accuracy and 64% striking defense, far surpassing Julianna Peña’s 44% accuracy and 57% defense. Harrison also lands 4.87 significant strikes per minute while absorbing just 1.19, giving her a massive striking differential. Peña, in contrast, lands only 3.25 and absorbs 2.53. While Harrison’s sample size is small, her numbers so far have been dominant.

Grappling Breakdown:

In grappling, Peña owns the higher takedown accuracy (56%), while Harrison’s sits at 30%—though Harrison’s 100% takedown defense (1/1 defended) is untested and should be taken cautiously. Where Harrison shines is in wrestling activity: she averages 2.75 takedowns per 15 minutes, compared to Peña’s 1.81. Both women are equally dangerous with submissions, averaging just under 1 attempt per 15 minutes.

Summary:

Kayla Harrison has burst onto the UFC scene with elite-level dominance, backed by strong performances against top-tier opponents like Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira. Despite the small sample size, her superior striking metrics and aggressive grappling pace are hard to ignore. On the other side, Julianna Peña brings far more UFC experience and has proven her toughness and ability to thrive in deep waters.