{"id":9123,"date":"2025-06-04T12:06:20","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T16:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/sin-categoria\/pena-vs-harrison-another-surprise-in-the-octagon-ufc-analysis-and-expectations\/"},"modified":"2025-06-04T12:06:20","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T16:06:20","slug":"pena-vs-harrison-another-surprise-in-the-octagon-ufc-analysis-and-expectations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/mma\/pena-vs-harrison-another-surprise-in-the-octagon-ufc-analysis-and-expectations\/","title":{"rendered":"Pe\u00f1a vs. Harrison: Another Surprise in the Octagon? UFC Analysis and Expectations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Julianna Pe\u00f1a: The ‘Lioness’ Who Defies the Odds and Seeks to Silence the Skeptics<\/h2>\n\n\n

Julianna Pe\u00f1a, in her second reign as UFC bantamweight champion, faces a reality that has accompanied her throughout her career: being underestimated. Despite having won three of her last four fights, including victories over two other champions, the MMA world continues to doubt her ability.<\/p>\n\n\n

This Saturday, Pe\u00f1a will defend her belt at UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey. Despite the fact that her opponent, Kayla Harrison, is relatively new and hasn’t been fully tested at the highest level, Pe\u00f1a is the underdog in the betting odds.<\/p>\n\n\n

For Pe\u00f1a, being overlooked is a constant. From her childhood in Spokane, Washington, where she was the target of her older brother’s pranks, to her path in the UFC, she has demonstrated time and again her ability to overcome obstacles.<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cMy mother used to tell me: ‘You will defend yourself’. She instilled that spirit in me, to never give up,\u201d Pe\u00f1a recalled.<\/p>Julianna Pe\u00f1a<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

This is not the first time Pe\u00f1a has faced adversity. In fact, this will be her fourth consecutive fight as an “underdog.” One of the most memorable moments of her career was when, despite the high odds against her, she submitted Amanda Nunes, marking one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.<\/p>\n\nPe\u00f1a has shown that self-belief and hard work are keys to success. Her upcoming fight with Harrison is a new opportunity to prove it and silence those who doubt her.\n\n

Currently, Pe\u00f1a is considered an “underdog” with +500 in the betting odds. Will she be able to repeat the feat and exceed expectations once again?<\/p>\n\n\n

Here’s a look back at the biggest “upsets” in UFC history, according to the experts:<\/p>\n\n\n