UFC 259 was a solid show. Jan made his claim as one of the best in the business, Yan exposed himself in an embarrassing DQ loss, Makhachev announced his intentions to take over the lightweight division, and of course Amanda Nunes dominated.

Megan Anderson was overmatched from the moment the ink hit the contract and it showed on Saturday night as being a “true” 145 pounder counted for nothing and Nunes mercifully choked her out in the 1st rather than putting her away with strikes. Most who saw the fight came away with the same impression, Nunes is untouchable (currently). One woman watched the Destruction of Megan and came to a different conclusion— Nunes is a coward.

Julianna Peña is a contender at 135 pounds, where Nunes is also champion, and is tired of The Lioness ducking her. “She knows that stylistically I’m the worst matchup for her… Do you remember when she fought Cat Zingano? What happened in that fight? She lost, she curled up in the fetal position and the referees had to frickin’ pull Cat off of her.” Peña said in an interview with Ariel Helwani. It’s true that Nunes lost to Zingano by TKO 7 years ago and that Peña beat Zingano by decision in 2016, but I’m not sure what relevance that has to a potential fight in 2021. Nunes has been on an unbelievable tear since that loss, winning 12 in a row and capturing UFC titles in two divisions.

But fine, if comparing records is a game Peña wants to play we should play it all the way. “The Venezuelan Vixen” was less eager to bring up her submission losses to Valentina Shevchenko and Germaine De Randemie, women who Nunes has beaten twice each. Peña also pointed to her January victory over Sara McMann as further proof of her ability to handle Nunes, but… Nunes also beat McMann…with the same submission…but she did it in the 1st instead of the 3rd.

It’s understandable that she wants a shot at making history vs Nunes and It seems like Dana White might grant her wish now that her next opponent, Holly Holm, has had to pull out of their fight due to injury. With that said, This is clearly a case of opportunism, there’s no real compelling reason for Peña to be next to the slaughter (she mocked Anderson’s record but is 10-4 herself and has lost 2 of her last 4) but she can get her name out there and if she wins, she’s a star, lose and it’s back to obscurity no harm, no foul. If nothing else maybe she can get a nice payday while Nunes her not to stalk a predator.