Kayla Harrison and a large portion of the MMA community seem to believe it’s an inevitability that she will defeat Julianna Pena to claim the UFC women’s bantamweight title.

Not so fast.

Peña (11-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) recaptured the championship this month at UFC 307 with a split decision over Raquel Pennington in Salt Lake City. Earlier that night, two-time Olympic gold medalist Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) likely punched her ticket to a crack at gold with a victory over Ketlen Vieira.

Although Peña largely ignored Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in the aftermath of the event and said she was “not impressed” by the performance while subsequently calling for Amanda Nunes to come out of retirement for a trilogy, all signs point to the showdown with Harrison being next.

Peña’s coach, Mike Valle from VFS Academy in Chicago, said his athlete will be ready if it is indeed Harrison. He doesn’t share the same negative slant of the two-time PFL season winner as Peña, but he does think Harrison is in for a rude awakening if she thinks it will be easy to snatch the belt.

“I can’t say that we weren’t impressed,” Valle told MMA Junkie on Friday. “She’s a great fighter. She’s very good in certain areas. It’s nothing that the world hasn’t seen. It’s not nothing we can’t come on top of. She’s good. But Julianna is good, too. When you get her in front of you, you realize how good she is. That’s what makes it very interesting. Whenever Harrison sees Julianna in front of her, she’s going to be like, ‘Oh my God. This girl is way better than what I think.’ And she’s going to be in tons of trouble. That’s what it is. That’s what makes the fight so interesting. All respect to her and her team. I’ve never disrespected her or her team. But I just can’t wait. If they sign a contact, we’ll go to work.”

Valle has heard it all before when it comes to Peña. She’s not skilled enough. Not athletic enough. Not powerful enough. Not dangerous enough. The criticisms can be endless in this industry, but Valle knows better than anyone what he has with “The Venezuelan Vixen” and is happy to let anyone continue to underestimate her.

“When you get that feeling, and you have someone across from you that’s not just going to fight with skills – we’re going to fight with a lot of will,” Valle said. “An unbreakable will. That says something to a person. I think that’s what it is. … You may see the skills and go, ‘OK, she lacks here and here.’ That’s fine. When you have her in front of you, you’re going to see how good she is. Then, on top of that, her will to push, will to go forward and to push. To have her on top of you or in your face all night, it says a lot about an athlete.”

Ultimately, Valle said he knows Peña’s biggest fights and toughest tests are on the horizon. Whether it’s the matchup with Harrison, a trilogy with Nunes or both in successive fashion, Valle is excited to dive into the challenge of game planning and finding a way for Peña to come out on top.

“Both of those fights represent something very interesting in their own way. I think a fight with Amanda would be great, but if it’s Harrison, cracking her is going to be – people think she’s invincible and just going out there and Julianna putting her stamp on it, I think it would be a great statement. From there, Amanda hopefully comes out of retirement. All three girls are amazing and it’s very interesting for MMA fans. Whichever one happens is going to be a great fight.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Victory in Helsinki will help ease some of the early pressure on Hallgrimsson following last month’s defeats by England and Greece.

The Irish players were booed by sections of their home fans at the Aviva Stadium following the loss to Greece while the travelling supporters voiced their frustration in Helsinki after Nathan Collins’ woefully underhit backpass gifted Finland the opening goal.

However, Azaz insists he and his team-mates are blocking out the noise as they bid to secure back-to-back competitive wins on the road for the first time since November 2021.

“I am going out there to do my job, that’s what I am trained to do, so I try to ignore the outside noise, we all try to do that. That’s how you have to be,” said the Westminster-born 24-year-old, who qualifies for the Republic of Ireland through his Cork-born grandparents.

“We do hear criticism but that’s part of the job. You need a strong mentality to ignore the noise and hopefully this win will help us gain even more confidence. We have a lot of belief.”

Azaz, who was replaced by Jamie McGrath for the final 20 minutes against Finland, added: “I didn’t hear any boos at half-time. It was a tough game and a tough first half, but you need to show respect to the opposition.

“We are a good team. I felt we could push on at half-time and that’s what we tried to do in the second half.

“With Nathan, mistakes happen and we are ready for that. We didn’t need to say anything to him, he’s an experienced player. We just focused on the positives and had that positive energy for the second half.”

TEMPLEGATE tackles a massive Saturday of racing confident of bashing the bookies.

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SIXANDAHALF (3.40 Newmarket, nap)

Was an excellent third in the Irish version of this two weeks ago where Gavin Cromwell’s mare proved her staying power. She likes cut in the ground and looks on a fair handicap mark.

LEAD ARTIST (1.15 Newmarket, nb)

He chased home Kinross in a hotter race than this at Doncaster last time. That was his latest excellent effort after he landed Group 3 honours at Goodwood in August. This slightly longer trip holds no fears and the Gosdens’ colt won’t mind if there’s juice underfoot.

DUAL IDENTITY (2.05 York, treble)

Will enjoy being back on the Knavesmire where he was an unlucky second two starts ago. Ignore his Cambridgeshire run last time as he had chronic traffic issues. This trip suits him better.

Templegate’s TV verdicts

NEWMARKET

1.15

LEAD ARTIST won in this grade at Goodwood before running a cracker behind Kinross in the Park Stakes at Doncaster. He shapes as though this longer trip will be fine and has more to come.

Al Mubhir just got collared near the line in France latest and this Frankel gelding has proven stamina. He should be on the premises again.

Liberty Lane has won his last two at HQ and deserves a crack at this after winning the Cambridgeshire easily. He had the draw and conditions in his favour but clocked a fast time.

Ancient Rome has been highly tried and comes into this after a wind op. A repeat of his run when a close second in a Group 2 at Ascot in July would put him bang there.

1.50

SHACKLETON landed an overdue win over 1m1f at The Curragh last time and can take another step forward. He handles any ground and Aidan O’Brien thinks a lot of him.

Starzintheireyes didn’t have a lot to beat at Leicester latest but went through the mud nicely and should relish this much longer trip for in-form Ralph Beckett.

Green Storm had almost ten lengths in hand when scooting in at Yarmouth 25 days ago. He clocked a decent time but will need more to follow up.

Ballydoyle second string County Mayo didn’t have to break sweat when winning at Gowran and could make the forecast spot.

2.25

SILVER PEAK can keep up Charlie Appleby’s amazing record in this race. He’s won the past four and five of the last seven.

This Dubawi colt showed plenty when winning at Haydock latest without breaking sweat and he’s proven over this mile.

Delacroix was very green when a promising second in a Group 2 at Leopardstown latest. He’ll want further in time but looks a real danger.

Wolf Of Badenoch was poor last time after going close in a hot Goodwood contest. A return to that form would give him a say.

Stanhope Gardens clocked a decent time in winning a minor race at Beverley but this is tougher so he needs more.

3.00

THE LION IN WINTER follows in the hoofprints of City Of Troy who won this for Aidan O’Brien last season.

His Acomb win at York was impressive and the form has been franked. He is up in class but will relish the step up in trip.

Shadow Of Light is no mug as he showed when blowing away Whistlejacket to take the Middle Park here two Saturdays ago.

He should stay this extra furlong and it will be a good battle between the pair.

Godolphin have another big chance with Ancient Truth who clocked a good time in the Superlative on the July course.

The break is a concern but there should be more to come over a trip that suits.

3.40

SIXANDAHALF came close to making all in the Irish version of this race, which is probably a hotter contest these days.

She may have used up a little too much petrol before boxing on when challenged and Rob Whearty is excellent value for his 3lb claim.

A 1lb rise for that gives her every chance for canny Gavin Cromwell who loves winning a big British prize.

As with all Emmet Mullins raiders, Jocovec Cavern has been well backed and with good reason after an excellent second in a big field at Galway when last seen in July.

He is a proven stayer who can make his presence felt.

Sea Of Sands has raced just once for Willie Mullins when winning a Listowel novice hurdle last month.

That was an unusual prep but this son of Sea The Stars was a Group 3 winner in Germany on the level and the booking of William Buick takes the eye.

Queenstown didn’t enjoy the fast ground when down the Ebor field at York but is another with Group form on his CV. He has plenty of weight but he can give Ryan Moore a good spin.

Spirit Mixer has a chance after a battling 2m win at Chester on soft last time, while last year’s winner The Shunter has only 5lb more and can’t be ruled out under James Doyle.

YORK

1.30

BOLO NEIGHS pocketed a quarter of a million when winning a Curragh sales race by seven lengths last time.

He had the best of the draw but still showed blistering speed in the tacky ground to win so easily.

He stays over his favoured six-furlong trip and will be hard to stop again.

Invictus Gold is improving with every run and came late to score at Newmarket last time. He relishes this trip and is another with more to offer.

William Haggas has a good record in this race and his Raneenn could be a fair bit better than we saw at Chester last time.

She still won easily in the soft conditions and has every chance of making the frame.

It Ain’t Two has been holding her own in Group contests including at Ayr latest. This is likely to be the softest ground she’s faced so far but it wouldn’t take a lot more to challenge.

2.05

DUAL IDENTITY didn’t get much room to race when midfield in the Cambridgeshire last time.

He’s better judged on his excellent second in a big field at the Ebor meeting here. He didn’t get the best of runs there either but finished strongly over this trip.

He has gone well on soft ground before and still looks on a fair handicap mark.

Stressfree scored over this trip at Chester last month and went close to following up at Leicester earlier this week. He likes testing ground and should be on the premises again.

Bolster has shown his best over this distance with some cut.

He is only 3lb higher than his game Epsom win in May and matched that form when going close at Newbury latest. He likes to force the pace and will take some pegging back.

Bennetot was a solid fourth in the Cambridgeshire and is in the mix with just 1lb more in the saddle.

Valvano is an interesting handicap debutant for Ralph Beckett in this hot company and is worth a market check.

2.40

STRIKE RED won this two years ago and has barely had his favoured soft ground since.

He ran a cracker at the Ebor meeting when second in a hot contest and he was away from the speed at Ayr latest. He’s only 1lb higher than his 2022 success and has a decent draw in stall nine.

Old boy Summerghand keeps coming down the weights and he’s sunk far enough to be an each-way player at a track he likes.

Aleezdancer won well here three starts ago and his rider’s claim takes him below that mark. He doesn’t have the greatest draw but could nick a place.

Secret Guest keeps making the frame and he was just denied at Ripon two Saturdays ago. He has a good berth in stall one and should be on the premises again.

First-time cheekpieces may perk up King’s Lynn who has run well on soft ground before.

Templegate’s tips

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The UFC returns to the APEX this Saturday for UFC Vegas 98, headlined by a top-10 flyweight matchup between Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira. Royval is a former title challenger and the current No. 1-ranked contender at flyweight, while Taira is the undefeated prospect trying to make his way to the belt for the first time.

Ahead of Saturday’s Fight Night card, MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and Alexander K. Lee preview the entire card, including who wins the main event and whether a title shot is next up for the winner. Additionally, they discuss under-the-radar matchups on the card, which fighters are in danger of receiving their walking papers, the state of MMA judging, and much more.

Catch the UFC Vegas 98 preview show above. An audio-only version of the show can be found below and on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.