Mayra Bueno Silva calls for vacant UFC women’s bantamweight title fight against Julianna Pena
The newest contender at 135 lbs, Mayra Bueno Silva called for a vacant UFC women’s bantamweight title fight against former champion Julianna Pena.
Silva is 4-0 since moving up in weight, including a surprising second-round ninja choke submission win over Holly Holm last weekend at UFC Vegas 77. That was the biggest win of the Brazilian’s MMA career, and it immediately shot her into the upper echelon of her weight class. Given she is an exciting fighter, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if she got a title shot.
Indeed, that’s exactly what Bueno Silva is now doing: stumping for the next 135 lbs title fight.
“I showed everybody that I’m the new face for the bantamweight division. I need the title shot now,” Bueno Silva told MMAjunkie.com in a recent interview.
While there have been rumblings of Pena fighting Raquel Pennington for the vacant title in the UFC women’s bantamweight division that used to belong to Amanda Nunes, Bueno Silva doesn’t think that fight moves the needle whatsoever. Instead, she believe she should be the next in line to fight for the belt, and Bueno Silva is hoping that her opponent is Pena.
“Nobody wants to watch Raquel Pennington and Julianna Pena. Nobody wants this. The fight to do now is Mayra Bueno vs. Julianna Pena because I showed my fighting is more exciting,” Bueno Silva said.
Pena is coming off of a decision loss to Nunes last summer at UFC 277, but she is a big name and of course the former champion of the weight class. That’s why Bueno Silva obviously has her eyes on this fight, as she is hoping to become the next UFC champion from Brazil.
With several pay-per-view cards left before 2023 is up, look for the vacant UFC women’s bantamweight title to be on the line at least once, and expect Bueno Silva to get a shot at it.
Who do you think would win between Mayra Bueno Silva and Julianna Pena?
