In the intricate world of the UFC, Julianna Peña has made it apparent she firmly believes that her upcoming opponent, Kayla Harrison, is taking an unfair advantage by tampering with the system. Despite rigid disclaimers from Harrison’s side, Peña remains undeterred in her conviction. The UFC 316 bout scheduled for June 7 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J brought these two face-to-face, paving the way for Peña to articulate her longstanding suspicion.
With an 18-1 MMA record and two UFC battles under her belt, Harrison seems poised to vie for the title on the match day. Situated on the opposite corner, the reigning champion Peña (11-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) has been quite vocal about her doubts regarding Harrison’s performance, suggesting it may be chemically enhanced, a claim she stands by steadfastly. This is despite the lack of any tangible evidence of prohibited substance use in Harrison’s record – a streak that spans for over ten years.
Peña indomitably alleges that Harrison, a double Olympic gold medalist, has been bending the rules much before her tryst with MMA championship. Abbasance of any solid proof does not seem to sway Peña’s viewpoint. ‘Look at any Olympian busted for steroids,’ said Peña, highlighting the worldwide scandal revealed in the Icarus documentary. It threw light on lengths certain international teams, particularly the Russians, would go to dodge drug tests, a fact that cements her accusation.
Giving a broader perspective, she goes on to say, ‘Test dodgers know the game too well. They know the precise timing to start and stop and even manipulate the results. They have mastered the art of deception.’ The heated conversation came alive with Peña’s comments, compelling Harrison’s head coach to step in and declare that the accusations lack a solid footing and that Harrison’s unique athletic prowess is the only force behind her success.
Peña acknowledges that she might have viewed the situation from a different lens if hers was the only voice ringing out such concerns. But in chorus with fellow MMA enthusiasts and others in the community, she finds it hard to deviate from her established beliefs. Peña has long been a part of the UFC since 2013 and she asserts, ‘Not once has PED use or steroid usage ever been a topic of debate with any of my competitors. This, with Harrison, is the first instance.’
She tossed the ball to Harrison’s court, urging her to clarify her stand on the issue. ‘My observations aren’t unique,’ she insists. ‘I’m merely the spokesperson responding to all your queries. But the questions here should be directed towards her.’ In her eyes, Harrison’s innocence claims bear a striking resemblance to Lance Armstrong’s situation, who, despite his adamant denial, eventually faced a doping scandal.
Genial as her demeanor might be, Peña, age 35, sustains a clear focus – if Harrison, 34, is not ejected from UFC 316 on external influence, the title fight will commence as planned. Despite her beliefs, she confessed she could approach the first defense of her second 135-pound title reign with more confidence if she felt the match conditions were even. Peña was frank about her apprehensions regarding contest oversight, deeming it below par.
From mid-2016 through to the end of 2024, the UFC’s drug-testing campaign was supervised by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), known for its sterling proficiency in Olympian doping control. However, the UFC switched to Drug Free Sport International in 2025 which sparked a new wave of controversy – with Peña believing that the testing has become more relaxed.
Expressing her concerns about the new testing system, she stated ‘I’m not a fan.’ She later elaborated, ‘I trusted the Icarus bottles more when I had to give samples. The present methodology seems too lackluster to me. Just a tiny plastic cup where the seal could easily be tampered with.’
Despite her apprehensions about Harrison’s credibility and upgraded drug-testing methodologies, Peña asserted that her sole focus is on her own training. She voiced her reservations about the current testing system, believing it to be more lenient than what was previously in place.
However, regardless of whether Harrison holds an unfair advantage or not, Peña is steeped in her resolve. She is unwavering in her certitude that she will defend her title victoriously. In her estimation, Harrison’s threat can be overcome with her seasoned strategy and technique.
She predicts, ‘Harrison is most likely going to try to keep me pinned down for the whole 25 minutes.’ She adds, ‘There might be one attempt from her to knock me off, but that’s where she’ll face a stiff counter from my side. Keeping me suppressed for a continued length of 25 minutes isn’t a plan she’ll be able to execute.’
Boosting the competitive atmosphere further, Peña added, ‘The longer the fight lasts, the better it plays out for me.’ This is no doubt a sterling display of confidence from the two fighters and time will tell who emerges triumphant in this grueling ring of combat.