Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison Preview, Predictions And MMA Betting Odds for UFC 316

Get to know the betting odds, predictions and picks for the upcoming Julianna Pena vs Kayla Harrison title fight at UFC 316!

Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The UFC bantamweight division has always been a wild place. Now fans are heading into another chapter of bantamweight drama. UFC 316 is set for June 7th at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The co main event features current champion Julianna Pena defending her title against Olympic judo legend Kayla Harrison.

This fight at UFC 316 has all the ingredients for another massive upset or a changing of the guard. Harrison brings an incredible pedigree from her PFL days, where she dominated competition and cashed million dollar checks. Meanwhile, Pena has proven she thrives when everyone counts her out. The stage is set for fireworks in New Jersey!

Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison Preview

Julianna Pen brings a unique fighting style that has troubled elite competition. Her boxing has improved dramatically over the years, and she knows how to make fights messy. The 35-year-old Venezuelan has excellent cardio and never backs down from a scrap. She’s also dangerous on the ground with her Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt skills. What makes Pena special is her ability to find ways to win when things look bleak.

Kayla Harrison enters this fight as a different type of problem. Standing 5’8″ with an 18-1 record, she’s built like a tank and fights like one too. Her judo background is world class. Harrison has been cutting weight to make bantamweight, which shows how badly she wants this title shot. But on the flip side, it could really backfire on her.

Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison MMA Betting Odds

The UFC MMA betting odds tell a clear story about how oddsmakers view this fight. According to BetMGM, Kayla Harrison sits as a massive -700 favorite. Meanwhile Julianna Pena comes in at +500 underdog. These numbers suggest bookmakers expect Harrison to dominate from start to finish.

The heavy favorite status makes sense when fans look at Harrison’s physical advantages. She’s bigger, stronger, and has elite level grappling credentials. Her PFL dominance wasn’t a fluke. She consistently bullied top competition there. The betting public seems to believe that Harrison’s wrestling and judo will neutralize everything Pena brings to the table.

Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison Predictions And Picks

This fight will likely be decided in the first two or three rounds. Kayla Harrison needs to establish her grappling early and often. If she can get Pena down and keep her there, the fight shifts in her favor. Harrison’s top control is suffocating, and her ground strikes can add up quickly. She showed against Holm that she can maintain dominant positions for entire rounds.

Julianna Pena’s path to victory is narrower but definitely exists. She needs to make this a phone booth fight where her dirty boxing can shine. If she can stuff Harrison’s takedown attempts early, the Olympic champion might start to fade. Pena’s cardio has always been elite, and she gets stronger as fights go longer. Moreover, Harrison’s extreme weight cut might work in Pena’s favor.

If we bet on the fight, we are going with Kayla Harrison to win the fight via submission in the third round.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Julianna Pena

Kayla Harrison

UFC 316

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!