Holly Holm vs. Julianna Pena verbally agree to fight at UFC Fight Night on May 8

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm is back.

Holm (14-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) is targeted to square off with fellow perennial contender Julianna Pena at a UFC Fight Night event May 8. The event does not yet have an announced location or venue.

A person with knowledge of the booking confirmed the targeted booking to MMA Junkie on Friday, but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. UFC broadcast partner ESPN was the first to report the news.

Pena’s manager, KO Reps’ Oren Hodak, told MMA Junkie contracts have not been signed, but verbal agreements are in place.

Holm, 39, is riding a two-fight winning streak. Following a unanimous decision victory over Raquel Pennington in January 2020, Holm defeated Irene Aldana by unanimous decision this past October. Holm’s only UFC losses have come to champions or future champions: Germaine de Randamie, Cris Cyborg, Valentina Shevchenko and Miesha Tate.

Pena (10-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) has won two of her most recent three outings. She is coming off of a submission victory over Sara McMann at UFC 257 in January. Her only losses since 2013 have come against de Randamie and Shevchenko.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for May 8 includes:

• Donald Cerrone vs. Diego Sanchez

• Zarrukh Adashev vs. Ryan Benoit

• Holly Holm vs. Julianna Pena

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