vs
+100 -125
UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 · Jan 24, 2021 · Women's Bantamweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 Next Fight
Age 36
Height 5' 6"
Reach 69"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 45
Height 5' 6"
Reach 66.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Julianna Peña
3.1 SLpM
44.0% Str. Acc.
2.56 SApM
57.0% Str. Def.
1.7 TD Avg
54.0% TD Acc.
24.0% TD Def.
0.8 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Sara McMann
2.26 SLpM
46.0% Str. Acc.
1.92 SApM
47.0% Str. Def.
4.38 TD Avg
65.0% TD Acc.
50.0% TD Def.
0.5 Sub. Avg
Julianna Peña
Moneyline
BetWay +100
KO/TKO
BetWay +700
Submission
BetWay +550
Decision
BetWay +240
Sara McMann
Moneyline
BetWay -125
KO/TKO
BetWay +900
Submission
BetWay +500
Decision
BetWay +150
Julianna Peña - Fight History
LOSS vs Kayla Harrison
Submission R2 4:55 · UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O'Malley 2 · Jun 07, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Julianna Peña 0 9 of 30 30% 15 of 37 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Kayla Harrison 0 30 of 54 55% 59 of 88 2 of 3 66% 1 0 6:05
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Julianna Peña 0 6 of 17 35% 9 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Kayla Harrison 0 8 of 24 33% 24 of 41 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:35
2 Julianna Peña 0 3 of 13 23% 6 of 17 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Kayla Harrison 0 22 of 30 73% 35 of 47 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:30
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Julianna Peña 9 of 30 30% 8 of 29 1 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 26 0 of 0 4 of 4
Kayla Harrison 30 of 54 55% 17 of 39 9 of 10 4 of 5 15 of 36 6 of 7 9 of 11
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Julianna Peña 6 of 17 35% 5 of 16 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 13 0 of 0 4 of 4
Kayla Harrison 8 of 24 33% 5 of 20 1 of 1 2 of 3 5 of 21 0 of 0 3 of 3
2 Julianna Peña 3 of 13 23% 3 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
Kayla Harrison 22 of 30 73% 12 of 19 8 of 9 2 of 2 10 of 15 6 of 7 6 of 8
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Kayla Harrison

Angelo picks Kayla Harrison based on her Olympic judo credentials and physicality. He acknowledges Peña's toughness and ability to survive, but thinks relying on Kayla gassing is not a real strategy. He notes Kayla has fought 25 minutes before and can win the first three rounds. He finds the odds too wide and is hesitant to bet on Kayla.

Odds are too wide; probably won't bet on Kayla.
"Kayla Harrison's going to be the pick. Obviously, the odds are insane. I would say these odds are actually too wide."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Kayla Harrison

Big Brady is confident in Kayla Harrison, citing her ability to take down anyone, including Ketlen Vieira who has great takedown defense. He notes Peña's 23% takedown defense and questions her motivation. He expects Harrison to get the fight to the ground, mix in ground and pound, and eventually submit Peña in the second round. He mentions weight cut concerns but thinks Harrison will dominate if she makes weight.

Harrison by submission in round 2
"I think Harrison gets the fight down to the ground. I think she mixes in some ground and pound. I think she eventually gets a submission here."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Jun 5, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Julianna Peña

Connor picks Peña, citing the potential for Harrison to get anxious and gas if Peña pressures her. He notes that Peña's chaotic, relentless style could rattle Harrison, who has shown discomfort in striking exchanges. Connor admits it's a risky pick but thinks the funnier outcome and Peña's ability to exploit Harrison's unease make it plausible.

Odds: Peña +551. Connor thinks the odds are too wide and the fight should be closer.
"I am going to pick Juliana Pena."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Kayla Harrison

Harrison is much better than Peña in every area. She will utilize her physicality, judo, and grappling to get Peña to the ground, wear her out, and ground and pound her for a TKO victory, becoming the new bantamweight champion.

win by TKO
"Look for Harrison to utilize her physicality, her judo, her grappling to eventually get Pena to the ground, wear her out and eventually ground and pound her on route to a TKO victory and new bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Kayla Harrison

The MMA Guru picks Kayla Harrison by decision, citing her physicality and grappling advantage. He criticizes Peña's standup as abysmal and notes Harrison's strength will be too much. He acknowledges Harrison's standup is not great but believes she will out-grapple Peña. He thinks Peña is tough but difficult to finish, so he predicts a decision win. He notes the odds of -600 are too high, suggesting value on Peña by submission.

Odds comment: Harrison should be -300, not -600. Value on Peña by submission or finish. Finish prediction: decision win.
"I'm going to go with Kayla Harrison getting this one done. Decision win."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 5, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Kayla Harrison

Zane picks Kayla Harrison, reasoning that Peña's takedown defense is poor and Harrison's judo and top control should be enough to dominate. He acknowledges Harrison's striking is awkward and she can panic, but believes Peña's wild aggression will play into Harrison's strengths. Zane notes the odds are too wide and the fight should be closer to -200.

Odds: Harrison -658, Peña +551. Zane thinks the odds are too wide, should be around -200.
"I have to still pick Harrison here."
Decision (split) (48–47, 47–48, 48–47) R5 5:00 · UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Jr. · Oct 05, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Julianna Peña 1 92 of 317 29% 112 of 345 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:33
Raquel Pennington 0 92 of 260 35% 123 of 308 2 of 3 66% 1 0 5:40
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Julianna Peña 0 17 of 60 28% 17 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Raquel Pennington 0 25 of 59 42% 25 of 59 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Julianna Peña 0 6 of 24 25% 23 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Raquel Pennington 0 6 of 16 37% 18 of 34 1 of 2 50% 0 0 3:00
3 Julianna Peña 0 8 of 34 23% 11 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Raquel Pennington 0 18 of 33 54% 35 of 53 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:20
4 Julianna Peña 1 26 of 84 30% 26 of 84 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:22
Raquel Pennington 0 16 of 67 23% 18 of 76 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:20
5 Julianna Peña 0 35 of 115 30% 35 of 115 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Raquel Pennington 0 27 of 85 31% 27 of 86 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Julianna Peña 92 of 317 29% 57 of 277 29 of 33 6 of 7 88 of 308 4 of 6 0 of 3
Raquel Pennington 92 of 260 35% 82 of 248 9 of 11 1 of 1 90 of 256 2 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Julianna Peña 17 of 60 28% 12 of 53 3 of 4 2 of 3 17 of 60 0 of 0 0 of 0
Raquel Pennington 25 of 59 42% 24 of 58 1 of 1 0 of 0 25 of 59 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Julianna Peña 6 of 24 25% 2 of 19 3 of 4 1 of 1 4 of 21 2 of 3 0 of 0
Raquel Pennington 6 of 16 37% 6 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0 6 of 15 0 of 1 0 of 0
3 Julianna Peña 8 of 34 23% 5 of 31 3 of 3 0 of 0 8 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
Raquel Pennington 18 of 33 54% 14 of 28 3 of 4 1 of 1 16 of 31 2 of 2 0 of 0
4 Julianna Peña 26 of 84 30% 12 of 69 12 of 13 2 of 2 25 of 80 1 of 1 0 of 3
Raquel Pennington 16 of 67 23% 14 of 65 2 of 2 0 of 0 16 of 67 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Julianna Peña 35 of 115 30% 26 of 105 8 of 9 1 of 1 34 of 113 1 of 2 0 of 0
Raquel Pennington 27 of 85 31% 24 of 81 3 of 4 0 of 0 27 of 84 0 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 29, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Raquel Pennington

Angelo picks Raquel Pennington to win by grinding against the cage, using her technical striking and control. He notes Julianna Peña is coming off a two-year layoff and a severe beating, which often leads to poor performances. He believes Pennington's durability and preparation at elevation will be key, and that Peña's chaotic style won't be enough. He also mentions that Pennington's wife Tisha Torres fights earlier, which could affect her mentally if Tisha loses.

"Rocko Pennington is the pick and I'm fairly confident that she gets it done"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 3, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Raquel Pennington

Big Brady picks Raquel Pennington, citing her recent activity and impressive wins over Macy Chiasson, Ketlen Vieira, and Mayra Bueno Silva. He notes Peña has been inactive for two years and lost to Amanda Nunes. He believes Pennington is the better striker and has strong clinch work, and expects her to win a decision.

"I got to go Pennington here and I think Pennington is going to win this fight and win it probably probably by decision Pennington Pennington by decision more active better fighter give me Pennington"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 2, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Raquel Pennington

Cody picks Pennington due to Peña's two-year layoff, age, and tendency to fatigue. He highlights Pennington's durability, volume striking, and ability to fight five rounds. He expects Pennington to pressure Peña against the cage and win a decision.

Raquel Pennington by decision
"I will take Ral Pennington"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Oct 3, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Raquel Pennington

Connor picks Pennington, but hesitantly. He thinks Pennington's crafty boxing and durability will allow her to survive Peña's initial onslaught and win rounds in the clinch. He notes that Pennington is comfortable in long clinches and can land knees and front headlock chokes. However, he acknowledges Peña's athleticism and aggression make it a tough fight.

Same odds commentary.
"I think she is going to end up in a lot of long clinches with rocky which is a position where rocky is very comfortable even against stronger women."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 3, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Raquel Pennington

Daniel Vreeland picks Raquel Pennington. He cites multiple factors: Pennington trains at elevation and has amazing cardio, while Peña has not fought since July 2022 and has a history of poor preparation for elevation. Vreeland notes that Pennington's style is exhausting to fight, as seen in her win over Mayra Bueno Silva. He also points out that Pennington's boxing looked good in her last fight, while Peña's boxing looked terrible with wild swings. He believes Pennington will grind out a win, likely by decision or late TKO.

Pennington by TKO +2000
"I'm going Raquel Pennington yes sir"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Oct 1, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Raquel Pennington

Daniel Vreeland leans toward Raquel Pennington, citing her superior boxing and clinch work. He believes Pennington can keep the fight standing and piece up Peña, possibly even choking her out if Peña shoots a sloppy takedown. He is not confident in Peña's evolution since her loss to Amanda Nunes and thinks Pennington's takedown defense will be key.

"I do lean Pennington man if she can keep this fight standing she's gonna box this girl up even piece her up in the clinch with knees and elbows"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked Oct 3, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Raquel Pennington

Jeff Fox picks Raquel Pennington. He agrees with Vreeland on the elevation advantage and Peña's layoff. He notes that Pennington is a tough out, especially if Peña doesn't properly prepare. Fox thinks Pennington will grind out a win, though it may not be pretty.

Pennington by decision +110
"I'm in on all of that as well Raquel Pennington she's a tough out especially if you're not going to properly prepare for it"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 4, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Julianna Peña

The host thinks Peña is the overall better fighter and that her wrestling advantage will nullify Pennington's game. He believes people are overlooking Peña due to her loss to Amanda Nunes, but notes Pennington is nowhere near Nunes's level. He expects Peña to lean on her wrestling and grappling and open up a submission opportunity within 10 to 15 minutes.

submission opportunity within 10 to 15 minutes
"look for Peña to go out there lean on her wrestling lean on her grappling and open up a submission opportunity within 10 to 15 minutes"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 2, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Raquel Pennington

Paul agrees with Cody, citing Peña's two-year layoff and Pennington's cardio advantage. He notes Pennington's recent procedure as a minor concern but believes her durability and wrestling will carry her to a decision win.

Raquel Pennington by decision
"Pennington probably Pennington by decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Oct 1, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Raquel Pennington

The MMA Guru picks Raquel Pennington over Julianna Peña, citing Peña's long layoff (over two years) and inactivity. He notes Pennington trains at altitude and has a cage control game. He acknowledges Peña's win over Nunes but questions her deserving a title shot. He is not confident, calling it a tough pick, but goes with Pennington due to Peña's ring rust.

"I'm going to go Raquel Pennington you guys Juliana Pena hasn't been in she's 10 and five fighting for she's 35 years old who are you like what are you doing go away"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 3, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Julianna Peña

Zane picks Peña, arguing that Pennington is slow-footed and will get stuck on the cage, allowing Peña to impose her physicality and wrestling. He believes Peña's aggression and strength will overwhelm Pennington, despite Pennington's improved boxing and durability. Zane thinks Peña will win the belt and set up a fight with Kayla Harrison.

Peña opened at +145, currently +147. Pennington opened at -185, now -166.
"So i'm just i'm gonna take penia i'm gonna take penia to go out and be her absolute most annoying self and win this belt and give an indecipherable interview afterward."
LOSS vs Amanda Nunes
Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 50–44, 50–43) R5 5:00 · UFC 277: Pena vs. Nunes 2 · Jul 30, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Amanda Nunes 0 60 of 154 38% 130 of 239 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Julianna Peña 3 85 of 152 55% 126 of 201 6 of 8 75% 1 0 11:49
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Amanda Nunes 0 21 of 51 41% 21 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Julianna Peña 0 25 of 47 53% 25 of 47 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Amanda Nunes 0 25 of 66 37% 31 of 72 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Julianna Peña 3 19 of 48 39% 24 of 53 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:32
3 Amanda Nunes 0 6 of 21 28% 31 of 55 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Julianna Peña 0 14 of 23 60% 23 of 35 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:02
4 Amanda Nunes 0 4 of 10 40% 33 of 42 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Julianna Peña 0 16 of 20 80% 34 of 40 3 of 3 100% 0 0 3:54
5 Amanda Nunes 0 4 of 6 66% 14 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Julianna Peña 0 11 of 14 78% 20 of 26 2 of 3 66% 1 0 4:21
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Amanda Nunes 60 of 154 38% 54 of 144 6 of 10 0 of 0 59 of 151 1 of 3 0 of 0
Julianna Peña 85 of 152 55% 67 of 128 10 of 14 8 of 10 57 of 117 0 of 1 28 of 34
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Amanda Nunes 21 of 51 41% 20 of 49 1 of 2 0 of 0 21 of 50 0 of 1 0 of 0
Julianna Peña 25 of 47 53% 17 of 37 3 of 3 5 of 7 25 of 47 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Amanda Nunes 25 of 66 37% 21 of 59 4 of 7 0 of 0 24 of 65 1 of 1 0 of 0
Julianna Peña 19 of 48 39% 13 of 40 4 of 6 2 of 2 19 of 47 0 of 0 0 of 1
3 Amanda Nunes 6 of 21 28% 5 of 20 1 of 1 0 of 0 6 of 20 0 of 1 0 of 0
Julianna Peña 14 of 23 60% 12 of 20 2 of 3 0 of 0 7 of 13 0 of 1 7 of 9
4 Amanda Nunes 4 of 10 40% 4 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Julianna Peña 16 of 20 80% 15 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 6 0 of 0 11 of 14
5 Amanda Nunes 4 of 6 66% 4 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Julianna Peña 11 of 14 78% 10 of 12 0 of 1 1 of 1 1 of 4 0 of 0 10 of 10
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 25, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Amanda Nunes

Big Brady picks Amanda Nunes to win by first-round submission. He believes Nunes is better everywhere and that the first fight was a one-off due to injury or motivation issues. He expects Nunes to finish early, but if it extends, he has concerns about her cardio. He is not betting this fight.

"i'm going to take nunes here... i'll say nunez first round finish"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 26, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Julianna Peña

Cody believes Peña is the right pick because she already exposed Nunes' cardio and quit rate. He notes Nunes has suspect cardio, has shown red flags in fights against Germaine de Randamie and Felicia Spencer, and may be unmotivated after becoming a multi-millionaire and mother. He also points out that Peña is durable, pressures well, and the odds (+245) are too juicy to pass up given she just choked Nunes out. He expects Peña to win again, possibly taking a bit longer this time.

Nunes under 2 takedowns on PrizePicks; odds are too juicy for Peña at +245
"i just think that the pace at some point will cause amanda to quit... the odds are just way too juicy to look away here's a girl that just choked her out in the second round standing feels like crap …"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jul 27, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Julianna Peña

Daniel argues that Julianna Peña's ability to stand up to the bully and absorb Nunes' power is the key factor. He notes that Peña's iron jaw and willpower broke Nunes mentally in the first fight, causing her to tap to a choke that wasn't locked in. He believes Nunes has a history of struggling when opponents don't back down, citing the Cat Zingano fight and the Valentina Shevchenko fights. He acknowledges Nunes could win via calf kicks or a submission, but he trusts Peña's heart and durability. He also points out that long-reigning champions rarely regain their belt in immediate rematches, citing a 11-2 record for the new champion.

1 unit bet at +245; mentions that Peña could win by ground and pound from full mount this time
"I'm taking Juliana Peña. I only put one unit on it, um I think I got it plus 245."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jul 30, 2022 (fight day)
Amanda Nunes

Preet leans Nunes to win but won't lay -260; instead he likes the over 2.5 rounds at +100. He expects a more cautious, methodical fight that goes into the later rounds, noting that rematches of first-round finishes often go the distance. He thinks Nunes will be more disciplined and use leg kicks and combinations, but Peña's durability and pressure could extend the fight.

over 2.5 rounds +100
"the spot that i think that is being overlooked here is the the over uh over one and a half minus 190 not bad but even the over two and a half plus 100"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 26, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Julianna Peña

Paul picks Peña as well, citing the narrative that Nunes emptied her tank early in the first fight and quit. He thinks Nunes can win a striking match if she paces herself, but he's terrified to bet the fight. He notes that Peña is super durable and that the odds (+245) are attractive. He compares it to Ronda Rousey's loss to Holly Holm, where people still believed in Rousey, but here Peña already beat Nunes.

Nunes under 2 takedowns on PrizePicks; odds are too juicy for Peña at +245
"i'll pick pena if i was going to bet but like i'm terrified to bet this fight"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 30, 2022 (fight day)
Julianna Peña

The MMA Guru predicts Julianna Peña wins by submission (rear-naked choke) in round four. He expects Nunes to win the first two rounds with takedowns and jabs, but Peña will threaten submissions throughout. In round four, Peña times a takedown, passes to half guard, takes the back, and chokes Nunes out.

submission in round 4
"juliana pena choked her around on round four"
WIN vs Amanda Nunes
Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 3:26 · UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier · Dec 11, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Julianna Peña 0 46 of 99 46% 58 of 112 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:35
Amanda Nunes 0 79 of 135 58% 90 of 147 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:25
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Julianna Peña 0 10 of 14 71% 22 of 27 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:35
Amanda Nunes 0 5 of 20 25% 16 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
2 Julianna Peña 0 36 of 85 42% 36 of 85 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Amanda Nunes 0 74 of 115 64% 74 of 115 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:17
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Julianna Peña 46 of 99 46% 36 of 85 1 of 3 9 of 11 44 of 97 0 of 0 2 of 2
Amanda Nunes 79 of 135 58% 69 of 122 10 of 13 0 of 0 78 of 134 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Julianna Peña 10 of 14 71% 4 of 7 1 of 2 5 of 5 8 of 12 0 of 0 2 of 2
Amanda Nunes 5 of 20 25% 5 of 19 0 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Julianna Peña 36 of 85 42% 32 of 78 0 of 1 4 of 6 36 of 85 0 of 0 0 of 0
Amanda Nunes 74 of 115 64% 64 of 103 10 of 12 0 of 0 73 of 114 1 of 1 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Dec 8, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Amanda Nunes

Big Brady is very confident in Amanda Nunes winning early, likely by first-round submission. He notes that Nunes is the GOAT and has advantages everywhere: striking, grappling, and cardio. Peña has poor takedown defense (23%) and was submitted by GDR, which is concerning. Nunes can finish by knockout or submission, and Brady expects a quick finish.

Nunes by submission in round 1
"i think amanda nunez is going to get it done i think she's going to get it done early very early in the first round whether it's a first round knockout or a first round submission"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Dec 9, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Amanda Nunes

Daniel Levi picks Amanda Nunes to win by submission in the first round. He notes that Peña's striking is sloppy and she has been submitted in two of her last four fights. Levi believes Nunes will establish her jab and calf kicks, and when Peña shoots a sloppy takedown, Nunes will sprawl and lock in a d'arce or anaconda choke. He thinks Peña's trash talk will motivate Nunes to make a statement.

submission, first round, d'arce or anaconda choke
"i think that amanda nunes is going to sprawl on her and i'm thinking a darcer anaconda choke finish in the first round"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 10, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Amanda Nunes

Nunes is the far superior fighter and should win, but the method is uncertain. Peña will try to grapple, which could slow the fight and push it past 1.5 rounds. Nunes has KO power, but Peña's durability and grappling could extend the fight. The over 1.5 rounds is a lean, but Nunes inside the distance is the most likely outcome.

over 1.5 rounds, Nunes inside the distance
"i'm going nunez nunes by let's say third round tko"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Amanda Nunes

The MMA Guru picks Amanda Nunes to win by first-round TKO, dismissing Julianna Peña's chances. He criticizes Peña's striking technique and notes she was submitted by a standing guillotine against Jermaine de Randamie. He believes Nunes is on a different level in strength and skill.

first-round TKO
"i'm gonna go with amanda nunez here she's on a different level she's too strong she's too manly she's too lesbian juliana pena is too heterosexual i'm going with amanda nunez by tko in the first round"
WIN vs Sara McMann
Submission (rear-naked choke) R3 3:39 · UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 · Jan 24, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Julianna Peña 0 38 of 76 50% 140 of 192 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:55
Sara McMann 0 21 of 54 38% 28 of 63 3 of 3 100% 0 0 7:21
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Julianna Peña 0 5 of 20 25% 37 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sara McMann 0 12 of 30 40% 15 of 33 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:58
2 Julianna Peña 0 13 of 29 44% 70 of 93 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Sara McMann 0 8 of 17 47% 11 of 22 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:11
3 Julianna Peña 0 20 of 27 74% 33 of 42 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:47
Sara McMann 0 1 of 7 14% 2 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Julianna Peña 38 of 76 50% 27 of 65 11 of 11 0 of 0 20 of 57 10 of 10 8 of 9
Sara McMann 21 of 54 38% 10 of 39 7 of 10 4 of 5 12 of 43 6 of 6 3 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Julianna Peña 5 of 20 25% 5 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0 5 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sara McMann 12 of 30 40% 7 of 23 3 of 5 2 of 2 9 of 27 2 of 2 1 of 1
2 Julianna Peña 13 of 29 44% 7 of 23 6 of 6 0 of 0 7 of 23 6 of 6 0 of 0
Sara McMann 8 of 17 47% 3 of 10 3 of 4 2 of 3 2 of 9 4 of 4 2 of 4
3 Julianna Peña 20 of 27 74% 15 of 22 5 of 5 0 of 0 8 of 14 4 of 4 8 of 9
Sara McMann 1 of 7 14% 0 of 6 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 21, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Sara McMann

Big Brady picks Sara McMann by decision, citing her wrestling advantage and Peña's poor takedown defense (28%). He notes McMann lands 4.5 takedowns per 15 minutes with 60% accuracy. He expects McMann to control Peña on the ground for at least two rounds. He is not confident enough to bet but leans towards McMann.

"give me sarah mcmahon 29 28 maybe 30 27"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jan 22, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Sara McMann

Daniel Levi picks Sara McMann, highlighting her superior wrestling and power. He criticizes Julianna Peña's poor takedown defense (28%) and lack of submissions. Levi believes McMann can dominate with top control and avoid Peña's comeback attempts, as long as she stays focused for 15 minutes.

"i'll go with sarah just stay in it for 15 straight minutes keep your head on straight and you win this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jan 22, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Sara McMann

McMann is the better wrestler and should be able to get takedowns and control Peña on the ground. Peña has poor takedown defense and her jiu-jitsu off her back is not great. However, McMann is 40 years old and has cardio issues, which is a concern. I think McMann grinds out a decision, but I'm not confident enough to bet on her.

"I'm going with Sara McMann to win this fight via decision."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 17, 2021 (7 days before fight)
Sara McMann

The MMA Guru picks Sara McMann to win by controlling Peña on the ground with top control. He criticizes Peña's submission game, noting she hasn't submitted anyone of note and has been submitted herself. He believes McMann's wrestling and top control will be effective, especially since women's fights are not stood up quickly. He predicts a 30-27 decision via ground control.

30-27 unanimous decision, ground control
"i'm going to go sarah mcmahon smushing her on the ground in half guard with top control the entire round landing total strikes winning herself to fight that way"
Technical Submission (guillotine choke) R3 3:25 · UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana · Oct 04, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Germaine de Randamie 0 37 of 91 40% 57 of 119 0 of 0 --- 2 0 0:48
Julianna Peña 0 27 of 91 29% 58 of 125 3 of 6 50% 0 0 5:55
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Germaine de Randamie 0 20 of 58 34% 23 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Julianna Peña 0 8 of 43 18% 12 of 47 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:29
2 Germaine de Randamie 0 6 of 9 66% 19 of 29 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:48
Julianna Peña 0 11 of 23 47% 30 of 43 1 of 2 50% 0 0 3:41
3 Germaine de Randamie 0 11 of 24 45% 15 of 29 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Julianna Peña 0 8 of 25 32% 16 of 35 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:45
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Germaine de Randamie 37 of 91 40% 32 of 86 5 of 5 0 of 0 32 of 84 4 of 6 1 of 1
Julianna Peña 27 of 91 29% 19 of 79 7 of 10 1 of 2 18 of 75 2 of 2 7 of 14
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Germaine de Randamie 20 of 58 34% 18 of 56 2 of 2 0 of 0 20 of 58 0 of 0 0 of 0
Julianna Peña 8 of 43 18% 7 of 39 0 of 2 1 of 2 8 of 43 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Germaine de Randamie 6 of 9 66% 6 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 6 1 of 2 1 of 1
Julianna Peña 11 of 23 47% 6 of 17 5 of 6 0 of 0 4 of 9 0 of 0 7 of 14
3 Germaine de Randamie 11 of 24 45% 8 of 21 3 of 3 0 of 0 8 of 20 3 of 4 0 of 0
Julianna Peña 8 of 25 32% 6 of 23 2 of 2 0 of 0 6 of 23 2 of 2 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Sep 30, 2020 (4 days before fight)
Germaine de Randamie

Big Brady leans towards Germaine de Randamie to win by decision. He notes the striking discrepancy favors de Randamie, and while Peña's path is takedowns, he thinks de Randamie can stop them. He is worried about cage control but expects the fight to stay on the feet.

"give me drain derandomy to win this fight by uh by decision"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Oct 2, 2020 (2 days before fight)
Germaine de Randamie

Daniel picks de Randamie, emphasizing the massive striking gap and Peña's ugly stand-up. He believes de Randamie will clip Peña coming in and possibly knock her out, similar to the Aspen Ladd fight. He acknowledges concern if Peña gets on top but thinks de Randamie's takedown defense has improved and she will pull the trigger.

de Randamie by knockout; mentions the striking gap is bigger than the grappling gap; notes Peña's horrendous stand-up
"i'm gonna roll with jermaine duran maybe a knockout in this spot it kind of reminds me of the aspen lad fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 1, 2020 (3 days before fight)
Julianna Peña

The host picks Peña as the underdog, believing her wrestling and trip takedowns will be effective against de Randamie's takedown defense. He notes that de Randamie has struggled against grapplers like Nunes and that Peña's style is similar. He predicts a decision win for Peña and thinks the line should be closer to -120.

"i love juliana pena in this situation i'm kind of surprised at the amount of love that's coming in on jermaine duranomy"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 28, 2020 (6 days before fight)
Germaine de Randamie

The Guru picks Germaine de Randamie, believing she can survive on the ground and will keep the fight standing to beat Peña with leg kicks and eventually finish by TKO. He notes Peña couldn't submit Nico Montano and thinks de Randamie is too big and dangerous.

Prediction: TKO
"i'm going to go to jeremy i think she can survive on the ground and i think she'll keep it standing and beat up juliana pena on the feet with some brutal leg kicks eventually finishing by tko"
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd · Jul 13, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Julianna Peña 0 45 of 90 50% 108 of 158 2 of 4 50% 0 0 4:36
Nicco Montaño 0 38 of 79 48% 59 of 103 3 of 5 60% 0 0 6:11
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Julianna Peña 0 9 of 19 47% 14 of 24 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Nicco Montaño 0 11 of 25 44% 25 of 42 1 of 3 33% 0 0 4:07
2 Julianna Peña 0 16 of 27 59% 42 of 56 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:17
Nicco Montaño 0 13 of 22 59% 17 of 26 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:23
3 Julianna Peña 0 20 of 44 45% 52 of 78 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:19
Nicco Montaño 0 14 of 32 43% 17 of 35 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:41
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Julianna Peña 45 of 90 50% 32 of 73 12 of 14 1 of 3 21 of 64 8 of 9 16 of 17
Nicco Montaño 38 of 79 48% 13 of 50 10 of 10 15 of 19 26 of 57 6 of 11 6 of 11
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Julianna Peña 9 of 19 47% 4 of 13 5 of 5 0 of 1 3 of 12 6 of 7 0 of 0
Nicco Montaño 11 of 25 44% 5 of 16 1 of 1 5 of 8 5 of 14 2 of 5 4 of 6
2 Julianna Peña 16 of 27 59% 13 of 22 2 of 3 1 of 2 1 of 11 2 of 2 13 of 14
Nicco Montaño 13 of 22 59% 3 of 11 2 of 2 8 of 9 7 of 12 4 of 5 2 of 5
3 Julianna Peña 20 of 44 45% 15 of 38 5 of 6 0 of 0 17 of 41 0 of 0 3 of 3
Nicco Montaño 14 of 32 43% 5 of 23 7 of 7 2 of 2 14 of 31 0 of 1 0 of 0
Submission (armbar) R2 4:29 · UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Pena · Jan 28, 2017
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Valentina Shevchenko 0 13 of 17 76% 46 of 51 2 of 2 100% 1 0 2:42
Julianna Peña 0 27 of 35 77% 78 of 99 1 of 5 20% 0 0 6:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Valentina Shevchenko 0 8 of 12 66% 25 of 29 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:42
Julianna Peña 0 20 of 24 83% 46 of 53 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:53
2 Valentina Shevchenko 0 5 of 5 100% 21 of 22 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Julianna Peña 0 7 of 11 63% 32 of 46 1 of 4 25% 0 0 4:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Valentina Shevchenko 13 of 17 76% 5 of 9 7 of 7 1 of 1 1 of 4 7 of 7 5 of 6
Julianna Peña 27 of 35 77% 2 of 5 22 of 27 3 of 3 0 of 2 25 of 30 2 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Valentina Shevchenko 8 of 12 66% 5 of 9 3 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 3 3 of 3 5 of 6
Julianna Peña 20 of 24 83% 0 of 0 17 of 21 3 of 3 0 of 0 20 of 24 0 of 0
2 Valentina Shevchenko 5 of 5 100% 0 of 0 4 of 4 1 of 1 1 of 1 4 of 4 0 of 0
Julianna Peña 7 of 11 63% 2 of 5 5 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 2 5 of 6 2 of 3
Sara McMann - Fight History
WIN vs Karol Rosa
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Daukaus · Mar 26, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sara McMann 0 24 of 41 58% 73 of 100 4 of 6 66% 0 0 10:27
Karol Rosa 0 26 of 43 60% 92 of 120 1 of 2 50% 0 1 1:56
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sara McMann 0 10 of 15 66% 31 of 37 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:44
Karol Rosa 0 7 of 11 63% 31 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Sara McMann 0 5 of 13 38% 7 of 15 1 of 2 50% 0 0 3:45
Karol Rosa 0 6 of 12 50% 9 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:00
3 Sara McMann 0 9 of 13 69% 35 of 48 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:58
Karol Rosa 0 13 of 20 65% 52 of 67 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:56
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sara McMann 24 of 41 58% 15 of 28 6 of 8 3 of 5 7 of 21 7 of 8 10 of 12
Karol Rosa 26 of 43 60% 20 of 36 4 of 4 2 of 3 13 of 25 7 of 7 6 of 11
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sara McMann 10 of 15 66% 8 of 11 2 of 3 0 of 1 4 of 8 0 of 0 6 of 7
Karol Rosa 7 of 11 63% 5 of 9 0 of 0 2 of 2 7 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Sara McMann 5 of 13 38% 1 of 7 4 of 5 0 of 1 3 of 10 2 of 3 0 of 0
Karol Rosa 6 of 12 50% 3 of 9 3 of 3 0 of 0 2 of 8 1 of 1 3 of 3
3 Sara McMann 9 of 13 69% 6 of 10 0 of 0 3 of 3 0 of 3 5 of 5 4 of 5
Karol Rosa 13 of 20 65% 12 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 1 4 of 6 6 of 6 3 of 8
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Sara McMann vs. Karol Rosa

Round 1
Once an undefeated title challenger, now at the age of 41 having lost three of her last four, McMann (12-6, 6-6 UFC) will be fighting now to keep her UFC record above the .500 mark when she takes on surging Brazilian Rosa (15-3, 4-0 UFC). The Octagon ranger for this bantamweight battle and preliminary headliner will be Chad Trukovich, and the two ladies show nothing but respect as they touch ‘em up first. McMann takes the center of the cage and starts off with a kick to the knee, and she wades forward with a pair of punches to the midsection. The two are tentative to engage with much else, as Rosa swings and misses with a pair of punches. The ladies whiff on punches, until McMann closes the distance and rips an uppercut up close. Rosa tries to reply, and McMann shoots through to hit a double and set the Brazilian on the canvas. Rosa looks to try to scramble and sweep her, but McMann uses this to nearly take her back and then place her flat on her back. McMann works with a few elbows in half guard, using heavy shoulder pressure to keep Rosa stuck without a way up. Rosa flails with strikes off her back, and McMann completely ignores them to isolate an arm and punch Rosa in the body repeatedly. McMann smothers her foe and smashes her in the face before isolating a wrist in search of a keylock. Rosa scrambles just enough to free her arm, but she is nowhere near getting off her back as the Olympian holds her down with ease. McMann grinds with elbows as she makes Rosa’s life miserable, posturing up every so often to land a few strikes before lowering herself down. McMann goes after another Americana briefly before letting it go to slash with a few elbows, and the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 McMann
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 McMann
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 McMann

Round 2
Rosa comes out of her corner to claim the center of the cage in Round 2, and she throws a high front kick that misses early. McMann bullies her way into a clinch, scoring a stern knee to the solar plexus, before Rosa pushes away and tries to gain space. McMann ducks a strike to throw three to the head and body. Rosa tries to counter, inaccurately doing so, and she takes a right hand to the body. The Brazilian fights off a single-leg takedown try, and as soon as McMann gets a hold of her, she elevates Rosa and tosses her down to the mat. From there, Rosa surrenders her back, with McMann getting both hooks in very quickly. Rosa looks to spin, but cannot, as McMann keeps wrist control. This position stalls out, with McMann easily holding dominant position but doing little else with it besides racking up riding time. Rosa is stuck and throws a few punches from behind her head, and McMann does not change her strategy one bit. The crowd begins to grow restless as McMann hangs on in back control, and McMann answers this by hooking up a body triangle. The Brazilian keeps a tight grip on her own wrists when McMann tries to isolate one in search of an armbar, and McMann throws her legs up in a full-throated effort for the armbar. Rosa winces as she is stuck in a very precarious position, and she stacks the Olympian up to protect herself from the greatest submission danger. McMann keeps that armbar locked down, and Rosa knees her in the side a few times while she remains in this predicament. Luckily for Rosa, she is able to keep her weight pressed on McMann to not succumb to the submission, but she can do little else until the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 McMann
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 McMann
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 McMann

Round 3
Rosa charges out of her corner like a woman possessed, jumping out with a flying knee and surprising McMann. The 41-year-old wrestler quickly gathers herself and shoots in for a double, where she successfully puts Rosa down to the mat. Rosa climbs back to her knees, and as she does, McMann hops on to her back to serve as a 135-pound backpack. McMann gets both of her hooks in when the Brazilian stands up, as McMann remains piggybacked on her. Rosa wriggles to shake McMann off of her, and as soon as McMann’s feet hit the ground, she throws Rosa down to the mat with emphasis. Rosa cannot get McMann off of her, even when she stands back up again, and an attempted mat return from McMann goes south. McMann gets flipped over to her back, and she starts frantically scrambling to push Rosa off of her. When Rosa is above her, McMann nails her with a few upkicks, until Rosa lowers herself back to the guard. Rosa stands back up again to try to pass to a better position, blocking the upkicks that come at her this time. Rosa gets on top and starts dropping down strikes wildly, only to get kicked off again. McMann starts to engage in a slugfest from her back, and Rosa once more stands and begins to kick at McMann’s legs. McMann replies with a few more upkicks, and she sits up quickly to grab hold of a single. Rosa defends by standing up with her back to the wall, and she begins to slam elbows in the side of McMann’s head. McMann may be stunned from these blows, and Rosa stops throwing them for some reason. This allows McMann to clear her head if she was hurt, and she hits a throw to put Rosa down to the mat. Rosa turns the corner and looks for her own takedown, but there is nothing there. The final bell sounds, and they hug it out and immediately begin to discuss some of the events that transpired in their 15 minutes of combat.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rosa (29-28 McMann)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rosa (29-26 McMann)
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 McMann (30-27 McMann)

The Official Result
Sara McMann def. Karol Rosa via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Mar 20, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Sara McMann

Angelo picks Sara McMann as a big underdog, acknowledging it could be a sucker bet. He believes McMann's wrestling will be the difference, as Karol Rosa lacks the offensive BJJ to submit her or the power to knock her out. He notes Rosa's high striking volume and takedown defense but thinks McMann can push the wrestling pace and win.

"i'm going with the big underdog here ... i'm going sarah mcmahon"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Karol Rosa

Big Brady picks Karol Rosa to win by third-round KO. He expects McMann to have early success with her wrestling, winning the first round, but then fade due to her age (41) and poor cardio. He believes Rosa will weather the storm and finish McMann late. He notes that McMann has been submitted four times in the UFC, but here he predicts a KO. He suggests live betting McMann in the first round.

Karol Rosa wins by KO in round 3; live bet McMann in round 1
"I'm gonna take carol hosa for a late like second or third round finish against sarah mcmahon... I'll say a third round ko for carol hoza."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Karol Rosa

Cody picks Rosa, expecting McMann to get takedowns early but fade. He notes McMann's history of blowing leads and getting submitted. He thinks Rosa is active off her back and will take over as the fight goes on. He likes Rosa at -225 better than Grasso at the same price.

"i gotta say kyle rosa gets the job done but it's another wide line"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Mar 24, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Karol Rosa

Daniel Levi picks Karol Rosa confidently, highlighting her incredible striking volume (over 100 significant strikes in multiple fights) and youth. He breaks down McMann's flaws: poor fight IQ, questionable durability, and tendency to fade. He notes Rosa has improved her submission defense since early losses and earned a black belt. He expects Rosa to break McMann down as the fight progresses, possibly finishing her. He parlayed Rosa with Khizriev at -108.

Rosa by TKO/KO in rounds 2-3, parlayed with Khizriev at -108
"I think carl jose breaks her down the stretch... I parlayed his riff and uh carl hosa and -108"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Mar 23, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Sara McMann

The host picks McMann despite her age and gas tank issues, believing her wrestling and strength will be the difference. He notes Rosa's takedown defense hasn't been tested at UFC level and that McMann can grind out a decision. However, he admits he's not confident enough to bet it, calling it a 50/50 fight.

McMann by decision at +400; also mentions possibility of a draw or Rosa round 3 at +1000
"i'm gonna go mcmahon as my prediction i think she wins this fight via decision plus 400 is that line"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Karol Rosa

Paul picks Rosa but is hesitant. He notes McMann's elite wrestling and early takedowns, but expects her to fade. He thinks Rosa can out-volume her on the feet and possibly submit her. He suggests live betting Rosa after round one if McMann tires.

live betting after round one
"i like rosa to win here but sarah mcmahon is an elite wrestler"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Karol Rosa

The MMA Guru picks Karol Rosa over Sara McMann, citing McMann's age (41) and inactivity since early 2021. He acknowledges McMann's grappling but believes Rosa is younger, more athletic, and technically sound, with a reach advantage. The Guru expects Rosa to control the fight against the cage and win a unanimous decision, as she doesn't leave herself out of position for takedowns.

"i'm gonna go with carol rosa over sarah mcmahon"
LOSS vs Julianna Peña
Submission (rear-naked choke) R3 3:39 · UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 · Jan 24, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Julianna Peña 0 38 of 76 50% 140 of 192 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:55
Sara McMann 0 21 of 54 38% 28 of 63 3 of 3 100% 0 0 7:21
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Julianna Peña 0 5 of 20 25% 37 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sara McMann 0 12 of 30 40% 15 of 33 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:58
2 Julianna Peña 0 13 of 29 44% 70 of 93 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Sara McMann 0 8 of 17 47% 11 of 22 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:11
3 Julianna Peña 0 20 of 27 74% 33 of 42 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:47
Sara McMann 0 1 of 7 14% 2 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Julianna Peña 38 of 76 50% 27 of 65 11 of 11 0 of 0 20 of 57 10 of 10 8 of 9
Sara McMann 21 of 54 38% 10 of 39 7 of 10 4 of 5 12 of 43 6 of 6 3 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Julianna Peña 5 of 20 25% 5 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0 5 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sara McMann 12 of 30 40% 7 of 23 3 of 5 2 of 2 9 of 27 2 of 2 1 of 1
2 Julianna Peña 13 of 29 44% 7 of 23 6 of 6 0 of 0 7 of 23 6 of 6 0 of 0
Sara McMann 8 of 17 47% 3 of 10 3 of 4 2 of 3 2 of 9 4 of 4 2 of 4
3 Julianna Peña 20 of 27 74% 15 of 22 5 of 5 0 of 0 8 of 14 4 of 4 8 of 9
Sara McMann 1 of 7 14% 0 of 6 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 21, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Sara McMann

Big Brady picks Sara McMann by decision, citing her wrestling advantage and Peña's poor takedown defense (28%). He notes McMann lands 4.5 takedowns per 15 minutes with 60% accuracy. He expects McMann to control Peña on the ground for at least two rounds. He is not confident enough to bet but leans towards McMann.

"give me sarah mcmahon 29 28 maybe 30 27"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jan 22, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Sara McMann

Daniel Levi picks Sara McMann, highlighting her superior wrestling and power. He criticizes Julianna Peña's poor takedown defense (28%) and lack of submissions. Levi believes McMann can dominate with top control and avoid Peña's comeback attempts, as long as she stays focused for 15 minutes.

"i'll go with sarah just stay in it for 15 straight minutes keep your head on straight and you win this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jan 22, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Sara McMann

McMann is the better wrestler and should be able to get takedowns and control Peña on the ground. Peña has poor takedown defense and her jiu-jitsu off her back is not great. However, McMann is 40 years old and has cardio issues, which is a concern. I think McMann grinds out a decision, but I'm not confident enough to bet on her.

"I'm going with Sara McMann to win this fight via decision."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 17, 2021 (7 days before fight)
Sara McMann

The MMA Guru picks Sara McMann to win by controlling Peña on the ground with top control. He criticizes Peña's submission game, noting she hasn't submitted anyone of note and has been submitted herself. He believes McMann's wrestling and top control will be effective, especially since women's fights are not stood up quickly. He predicts a 30-27 decision via ground control.

30-27 unanimous decision, ground control
"i'm going to go sarah mcmahon smushing her on the ground in half guard with top control the entire round landing total strikes winning herself to fight that way"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–26, 30–25) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos · Jan 25, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sara McMann 0 38 of 50 76% 62 of 84 3 of 5 60% 1 0 13:22
Lina Länsberg 0 1 of 5 20% 36 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sara McMann 0 10 of 12 83% 22 of 25 1 of 1 100% 1 0 4:29
Lina Länsberg 0 0 of 2 0% 6 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Sara McMann 0 10 of 16 62% 15 of 23 1 of 2 50% 0 0 4:11
Lina Länsberg 0 1 of 2 50% 14 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Sara McMann 0 18 of 22 81% 25 of 36 1 of 2 50% 0 0 4:42
Lina Länsberg 0 0 of 1 0% 16 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sara McMann 38 of 50 76% 22 of 32 15 of 17 1 of 1 1 of 8 1 of 1 36 of 41
Lina Länsberg 1 of 5 20% 0 of 4 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sara McMann 10 of 12 83% 0 of 2 9 of 9 1 of 1 0 of 2 0 of 0 10 of 10
Lina Länsberg 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Sara McMann 10 of 16 62% 4 of 8 6 of 8 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 9 of 11
Lina Länsberg 1 of 2 50% 0 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Sara McMann 18 of 22 81% 18 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 1 of 1 17 of 20
Lina Länsberg 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jan 24, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Lina Länsberg

Daniel picks Lina Länsberg for the upset, predicting that McMann will dominate the first round but then fade and get cut open by elbows in the second. He notes that McMann has a history of quitting and that Länsberg has improved her takedown defense. He expects a cut stoppage in the second round.

cut stoppage in the second round due to elbows
"I'm gonna take Lina in Landsberg for an upset"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Jan 20, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Lina Länsberg

The MMA Guru picks Lina Länsberg based on recency and activity, noting Sara McMann is 49 years old and hasn't fought since 2018. He acknowledges the women's bantamweight division is mixed but believes Länsberg's recency and ability to hold McMann against the cage will be key.

"I'm going with the activity I'm going with the recency and I'm going with Lena Landsberg getting the job done"
LOSS vs Marion Reneau
Submission (triangle choke) R2 3:40 · UFC on Fox: Emmett vs. Stephens · Feb 24, 2018
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Marion Reneau 0 9 of 49 18% 76 of 120 2 of 5 40% 0 0 5:10
Sara McMann 0 23 of 39 58% 37 of 55 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:07
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Marion Reneau 0 3 of 14 21% 68 of 83 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:00
Sara McMann 0 2 of 3 66% 5 of 7 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Marion Reneau 0 6 of 35 17% 8 of 37 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:10
Sara McMann 0 21 of 36 58% 32 of 48 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:07
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Marion Reneau 9 of 49 18% 5 of 42 2 of 5 2 of 2 6 of 45 3 of 4 0 of 0
Sara McMann 23 of 39 58% 23 of 38 0 of 1 0 of 0 11 of 24 1 of 2 11 of 13
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Marion Reneau 3 of 14 21% 2 of 13 0 of 0 1 of 1 3 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sara McMann 2 of 3 66% 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Marion Reneau 6 of 35 17% 3 of 29 2 of 5 1 of 1 3 of 31 3 of 4 0 of 0
Sara McMann 21 of 36 58% 21 of 35 0 of 1 0 of 0 9 of 21 1 of 2 11 of 13
LOSS vs Ketlen Vieira
Submission (arm-triangle choke) R2 4:16 · UFC 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko 2 · Sep 09, 2017
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ketlen Vieira 0 29 of 58 50% 36 of 67 1 of 5 20% 0 0 5:32
Sara McMann 0 17 of 21 80% 35 of 45 1 of 1 100% 2 0 1:45
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ketlen Vieira 0 20 of 44 45% 26 of 51 1 of 2 50% 0 0 4:07
Sara McMann 0 3 of 4 75% 12 of 15 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
2 Ketlen Vieira 0 9 of 14 64% 10 of 16 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:25
Sara McMann 0 14 of 17 82% 23 of 30 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:45
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ketlen Vieira 29 of 58 50% 25 of 52 2 of 3 2 of 3 1 of 9 9 of 11 19 of 38
Sara McMann 17 of 21 80% 16 of 20 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 4 14 of 14 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ketlen Vieira 20 of 44 45% 19 of 42 0 of 1 1 of 1 0 of 4 1 of 2 19 of 38
Sara McMann 3 of 4 75% 3 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 3
2 Ketlen Vieira 9 of 14 64% 6 of 10 2 of 2 1 of 2 1 of 5 8 of 9 0 of 0
Sara McMann 14 of 17 82% 13 of 16 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 3 14 of 14 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Sara McMann vs. Ketlen Vieira

Round 1
McMann swings a right hand at the body of Vieira, but it's only a cover for the wrestler to dive at Vieira and work for a takedown. Vieira stays standing, pressed against the cage by McMann with over-unders. One minute into the round, McMann completes the takedown and sets up in Vieira's closed guard. Vieira is looking to trap an arm, but McMann pulls herself free to slam the Brazilian with a heavy elbow to the face. More elbows fall on the grill of Vieira, who's still trying to creep up her guard to snare McMann in a submission attempt. The elbows of McMann have raised an enormous hematoma on the forehead of Vieira, but it's not stopping Vieira from hunting for a triangle. McMann ably defends the triangle setup and steps over to side control on Vieira's right side. McMann threatens with an arm-triangle choke, then releases and steps over to full mount. Vieira is dodging most of McMann's punches, and now she shrimps underneath to grab for a leg. Vieira finishes the round going for a kneebar, but McMann stays safe to see round two.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 McMann
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 McMann
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 McMann

Round 2
McMann tries to repeat her approach from round one, charging Vieira with her head down and using punches to set up a takedown. This time, Vieira is ready for it and plunks the wrestler with a right hand counter. McMann's next attempt yields a single-leg attempt against the fence, but Vieira defends well and drills the side of McMann's head with elbows and punches. McMann releases the leg in favor of holding Vieira against the wall; Vieira reverses to the outside, and now the bantamweights clinch in a neutral position on the fence. McMann digs an underhook and drives a hard knee into the body of Vieira. Suddenly, Vieira hits a trip takedown and comes down atop McMann in half guard. Now it's Vieira looking for an arm-triangle choke, and it looks like she may have it. McMann scoots her left side tight to the fence, but Vieira's squeeze from half guard is enough for force a tap from the American.

The Official Result
Ketlen Vieira def. Sara McMann via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) R2 4:16
WIN vs Gina Mazany
Submission (arm-triangle choke) R1 1:14 · UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Browne · Feb 19, 2017
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sara McMann 0 7 of 14 50% 7 of 14 2 of 2 100% 1 0 1:02
Gina Mazany 0 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sara McMann 0 7 of 14 50% 7 of 14 2 of 2 100% 1 0 1:02
Gina Mazany 0 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sara McMann 7 of 14 50% 6 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 5 0 of 0 4 of 9
Gina Mazany 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sara McMann 7 of 14 50% 6 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 5 0 of 0 4 of 9
Gina Mazany 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 1 0 of 0
WIN vs Alexis Davis
Submission (arm-triangle choke) R2 2:52 · The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions Finale · Dec 03, 2016
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sara McMann 0 14 of 36 38% 25 of 47 2 of 2 100% 1 0 0:00
Alexis Davis 0 21 of 29 72% 55 of 66 0 of 0 --- 1 0 6:11
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sara McMann 0 12 of 30 40% 21 of 39 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:00
Alexis Davis 0 17 of 21 80% 51 of 58 0 of 0 --- 1 0 3:50
2 Sara McMann 0 2 of 6 33% 4 of 8 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:00
Alexis Davis 0 4 of 8 50% 4 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:21
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sara McMann 14 of 36 38% 11 of 32 2 of 3 1 of 1 8 of 29 0 of 0 6 of 7
Alexis Davis 21 of 29 72% 17 of 25 1 of 1 3 of 3 11 of 19 0 of 0 10 of 10
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sara McMann 12 of 30 40% 10 of 28 2 of 2 0 of 0 6 of 23 0 of 0 6 of 7
Alexis Davis 17 of 21 80% 14 of 18 1 of 1 2 of 2 7 of 11 0 of 0 10 of 10
2 Sara McMann 2 of 6 33% 1 of 4 0 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
Alexis Davis 4 of 8 50% 3 of 7 0 of 0 1 of 1 4 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
WIN vs Jessica Eye
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt · May 29, 2016
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sara McMann 0 22 of 51 43% 56 of 88 2 of 5 40% 1 0 8:00
Jessica Eye 0 10 of 24 41% 19 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sara McMann 0 10 of 24 41% 11 of 25 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:41
Jessica Eye 0 4 of 9 44% 5 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Sara McMann 0 7 of 19 36% 19 of 32 1 of 3 33% 0 0 2:27
Jessica Eye 0 2 of 8 25% 2 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Sara McMann 0 5 of 8 62% 26 of 31 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:52
Jessica Eye 0 4 of 7 57% 12 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sara McMann 22 of 51 43% 8 of 34 12 of 15 2 of 2 3 of 29 11 of 13 8 of 9
Jessica Eye 10 of 24 41% 6 of 20 1 of 1 3 of 3 9 of 23 0 of 0 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sara McMann 10 of 24 41% 0 of 12 10 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 13 10 of 11 0 of 0
Jessica Eye 4 of 9 44% 3 of 8 0 of 0 1 of 1 4 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Sara McMann 7 of 19 36% 4 of 15 2 of 3 1 of 1 2 of 12 1 of 2 4 of 5
Jessica Eye 2 of 8 25% 1 of 7 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Sara McMann 5 of 8 62% 4 of 7 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 4 0 of 0 4 of 4
Jessica Eye 4 of 7 57% 2 of 5 1 of 1 1 of 1 3 of 6 0 of 0 1 of 1
Expert Picks (4)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 21, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Sara McMann

Big Brady picks Sara McMann by decision, citing her wrestling advantage and Peña's poor takedown defense (28%). He notes McMann lands 4.5 takedowns per 15 minutes with 60% accuracy. He expects McMann to control Peña on the ground for at least two rounds. He is not confident enough to bet but leans towards McMann.

"give me sarah mcmahon 29 28 maybe 30 27"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jan 22, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Sara McMann

Daniel Levi picks Sara McMann, highlighting her superior wrestling and power. He criticizes Julianna Peña's poor takedown defense (28%) and lack of submissions. Levi believes McMann can dominate with top control and avoid Peña's comeback attempts, as long as she stays focused for 15 minutes.

"i'll go with sarah just stay in it for 15 straight minutes keep your head on straight and you win this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jan 22, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Sara McMann

McMann is the better wrestler and should be able to get takedowns and control Peña on the ground. Peña has poor takedown defense and her jiu-jitsu off her back is not great. However, McMann is 40 years old and has cardio issues, which is a concern. I think McMann grinds out a decision, but I'm not confident enough to bet on her.

"I'm going with Sara McMann to win this fight via decision."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 17, 2021 (7 days before fight)
Sara McMann

The MMA Guru picks Sara McMann to win by controlling Peña on the ground with top control. He criticizes Peña's submission game, noting she hasn't submitted anyone of note and has been submitted herself. He believes McMann's wrestling and top control will be effective, especially since women's fights are not stood up quickly. He predicts a 30-27 decision via ground control.

30-27 unanimous decision, ground control
"i'm going to go sarah mcmahon smushing her on the ground in half guard with top control the entire round landing total strikes winning herself to fight that way"