Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes verbally sparred at the UFC 277 press conference, but they didn’t physically escalate when squared off for cameras.
According to Nunes Pena’s harsh talk was an attempt to get her under her skin. She wasn’t happy about it.
“Honestly, it’s a strategy,” Nunes said on Thursday in Dallas, which hosts the pay-per-view event on Saturday at American Airlines Center. “She does whatever she wants. She does what she wants.
That mindset was more fodder for Pena, who appeared to take great pleasure in riling the crowd at her opponent’s expense over the 45-minute event. The UFC bantamweight champ took several shots at the former champ-champ, seeming to have more success with the audience than with Nunes.
Pena smiled and gave an I-told-you-so when Nunes got defensive as she conceded walking in by “accident” on a practice during The Ultimate Fighter 30. Before this, the bantam champion had accused her opponent of spying on her ..
If Pena was mostly quiet, or simply just “weird,” on the reality show set, there was no mistaking her promotional bluster on Thursday.
“Fedor Emelinenko is an aura. Mike Tyson and Dana White have auras. “I don’t know about this aura that you speak of with Amanda Nunes. It’s not .”
.
Nunes tried to brush off attempts to bait her, casting the rematch as a test to make necessary changes in her preparation and execute on fight night.
“She can do whatever she wants, but I’m keeping my eyes on the prize of getting my belt back.” she stated.
Pena was asked for his prediction of the fight and he spit it out.
” I will punch, kick and pull her hair. If I need to, I’m also going to bite her. “I’m literally going to do everything in there. Trust me when I say I am ready and willing to die. Whatever it takes, I’m going to do whatever it takes.”
“Let’s hope literally none of that happens,” UFC President Dana White interjected with a laugh.
“And I will be there ready to be even better than her,” Nunes countered. “She is really going to have to confront a Lioness’ that she didn’t recognize last time. So I’m prepared.”
Nunes remains an established favorite , despite Pena’s upset defeat at UFC 269.. Pena joked early that with a second win, the MMA world might actually put some respect on her name. In the meantime, she would be the true believer in her abilties.
“I’m the real Leo lion, and it’s Leo season guys, so strap up,” she said.
“There is only one lion left in the jungle and it’s me,” Nunes stated.
“That is what you said the last time,” Pena fired back.
