Following her extremely disappointing title loss against Kayla Harrison at UFC 316, Julianna Pena has been handed an indefinite suspension.
This past Saturday at UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey, Julianna Pena was dethroned as the women’s bantamweight champion as Kayla Harrison dominated her on the way to a second round submission win.
Immediately after the fight, Harrison was faced with her next opponent as the greatest women’s fighter of all time, Amanda Nunes, stepped into the cage and faced off with the new champion.
Just a day removed from her disappointing loss, Pena broke her silence with a statement online, apologizing to her fans for her performance.
Pena receives indefinite suspension following UFC 316
Along with her statement to the fans, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ was slammed by fans for ‘calling dibs’ on fighting the winner of Harrison vs Nunes, despite her 3-3 record in her last six fights.
However, before the former champion steps back into the Octagon, she will need clearance on several injuries as she has been handed an indefinite suspension following UFC 316, according to the New Jersey State Athletic Board.
The commission has suspended Pena indefinitely until she receives clearance from an orthopedist on both her left elbow and left shoulder before she can compete again.
Of course, Harrison caught the 35-year-old in a kimura which subsequently resulted in a tap from Pena. Despite Pena’s hopefulness that she will be able to fight the winner of Harrison vs Nunes, she will likely need at least one win before she is considered for a title fight again.
Other UFC 316 medical suspensions
UFC veteran Kelvin Gastelum has also been suspended indefinitely following his decision loss to Joe Pyfer.
Gastelum must get clearance from a dentist for a loose right maxillary incisor. However, it is unclear whether Gastelum will continue fighting following his 10th professional loss.
After pulling off a huge upset win over Patchy Mix, Mario Bautista has been suspended for just 30 days due to facial lacerations.
Vicente Luque has also been handed a 45 day suspension following his loss to Kevin Holland due to a scalp hematoma.