The UFC women’s bantamweight division finds itself at a crossroads heading into UFC 316. For nearly a decade, the weight class was defined by dominant champions and larger-than-life personalities, from Ronda Rousey’s meteoric rise to Amanda Nunes’ reign of terror. But since Nunes’ retirement in 2023, the division has struggled for relevance, excitement, and star power. Now, as Olympic gold medalist and former PFL champion Kayla Harrison prepares to challenge Julianna Pena for the bantamweight title, the stakes are higher than ever, not just for the fighters, but for the future of the division itself.

Amanda Nunes’ retirement left a vacuum that the UFC has struggled to fill. Nunes retired as a simultaneous two-division champion, leaving both the bantamweight and featherweight titles vacant and the women’s side of the promotion without its most dominant figure. Since then, the bantamweight division has lacked the kind of compelling narrative and star-driven matchups that keep fans invested. While Julianna Pena reclaimed the belt in a split decision over Raquel Pennington, the fight failed to capture the imagination of the wider MMA audience. The division’s new contenders, Norma Dumont, Ailin Perez, Jacqueline Cavalcanti, have shown promise, but none have yet emerged as breakout stars capable of carrying the division into a new era.

Kayla Harrison’s arrival in the UFC injected much-needed intrigue. A two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, Harrison dominated the PFL’s lightweight division before making the dramatic cut to 135 pounds for her UFC debut. Skeptics doubted she could make bantamweight, but Harrison silenced critics with a second-round submission of former champion Holly Holm at UFC 300, followed by a dominant decision over Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307. Her record, 18-1, with a 72% finish rate, speaks for itself. Harrison’s combination of world-class grappling, physicality, and star power is rare in women’s MMA, and her presence alone has already reignited fan interest in a division many had written off.

Does the UFC Need Harrison to Win?

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The honest answer: yes. The UFC women’s bantamweight division desperately needs a dominant, marketable champion to revive its fortunes. While Julianna Pena is a gritty competitor with a penchant for upsets, her reigns have not generated the same buzz as those of Rousey, Holm, or Nunes. Harrison, by contrast, brings a compelling backstory, crossover appeal from her Olympic success, and the aura of invincibility that made previous champions so magnetic. If Harrison wins at UFC 316, she not only legitimizes her move to bantamweight but also sets up the division for blockbuster matchups and renewed media attention.

Perhaps the most tantalizing prospect is a potential superfight between Harrison and Amanda Nunes. Nunes, recently inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, has openly teased a return and was seen cageside during UFC 316 fight week, hinting at her interest in facing the winner of Harrison vs. Pena. UFC President Dana White has acknowledged that a Harrison-Nunes showdown is the kind of high-stakes, legacy-defining matchup that could draw mainstream attention back to women’s MMA.

Will Harrison Bring New Life to the Division?

If Harrison claims the title, the ripple effects could be transformative. She would become only the second athlete in history to win both Olympic gold and a UFC championship, joining Henry Cejudo in an exclusive club. Her presence would force other contenders to raise their game and could inspire a new generation of female fighters to pursue greatness in MMA. More importantly, Harrison’s star power and rivalry with Nunes would give the UFC a narrative anchor for the division, a storyline with real stakes, history, and crossover appeal.

For UFC 316 is more than just a title fight, it’s a referendum on the future of the women’s bantamweight division. Kayla Harrison represents the best hope for a stagnant weight class to recapture the energy and excitement of its golden era. A win for Harrison sets the stage for the biggest fight in women’s MMA history and gives the division a new face to rally around. For the UFC, the stakes couldn’t be higher. All eyes will be on Newark this Saturday to see if Kayla Harrison can deliver the spark the division so desperately needs.