Julianna Pena advised to make a big career change instead of challenging Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes winner

John McCarthy pitches flyweight move as Julianna Pena’s next step after UFC 316

During an episode of his Weighing In podcast after UFC 316, former MMA referee John McCarthy assessed Pena’s future after another devastating title defense defeat.

McCarthy suggested a major career change for ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’, pitching a move down to the flyweight division.

“I look at Julianna and I think she is a good fighter,” McCarthy said. “But I’ve always thought she is small for the bantamweights.

“I would love to see Julianna go to 125 (pounds). You can take a look at just the difference in size when she fought Amanda. Even when she was fighting Raquel,” McCarthy added. “Look at her against Kayla. I mean, they looked like they were in completely different weight classes.

“I think at 125, she would do really well. At 135, I look and I go, alright, who is there for you to fight?”

Pena has competed at 125 pounds just once, losing her debut in the division against DeAnna Bennett outside of the UFC in 2013.

She later joined the cast of The Ultimate Fighter, winning the bantamweight tournament before going on to become champion with one of the greatest upsets of all time over Nunes.

Julianna Pena has one win in over three years after UFC 316

While Pena evidently still sees herself as a prominent figure in the title discussion at 135 pounds, many see the former two-time champ in a different position.

That’s largely down to the fact that the 35-year-old has just one win in close to four years, alongside her two defeats to Nunes and Harrison.

Since memorably submitting ‘The Lioness’ in December 2021, Pena has only had her hand raised in the title fight against Pennington.

She spent a lengthy period on the sidelines after her rematch with Nunes due to injury, and shifts in the division mean Pena has defeated just one fighter currently ranked inside the top 15 of the UFC bantamweight division.

With that in mind, many are predicting that Pena will need to face and defeat a name like Ketlen Vieira if she’s to ignite the possibility of a third bantamweight title reign.

Or, perhaps she will take the advice of McCarthy and pursue a rematch with Valentina Shevchenko down at flyweight instead.