Manager: Julianna Peña's PED accusations ahead of UFC 316 fuel Kayla Harrison
Manager: Julianna Peña's PED accusations ahead of UFC 316 fuel Kayla Harrison
Ali Abdelaziz believes UFC bantamweight champion Julianna Peña is making things worse for herself by accusing Kayla Harrison of using steroids.
At UFC 316, Peña (11-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) faces Abdelaziz's client Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in the co-feature bout for the 135-pound title. The event takes place June 7 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Recently, Peña stated that she believes Harrison has used PEDs at some point in her career. Harrison, who has a muscular build, has never failed a drug test. According to the UFC's anti-doping testing website, Harrison has been tested three times so far in 2025. In her debut year, 2024, Harrison was tested 13 times.
Abdelaziz isn't angry with Peña for the accusations, because he believes it's just more bulletin board material for Harrison to use as motivation when the cage door closes at UFC 316.
"Let me clear something up: Kayla's the most tested athlete in UFC history," Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie. "She's been in WADA, Olympics for like 15 years, USADA, UFC program – there's nobody got tested more. Anyone who claims – I'm sorry you don't have this kind of physique, or muscle, or strong – this is God. You should talk to God about this, but to accuse someone of something who got more testing than you – I'm cool with Julianna. She's cool, but more she talk, more punishment she will get. I promise you.
"Kayla's a very petty human being. She's very petty. The more she talk, more it's gonna fuel Kayla and more she's gonna smash her face. And I believe she will smash her face – not in a bad way. I believe its gonna be a very bad night for Julianna. I truly believe it. Kayla's just built different. She's getting comfortable with the weight. She's figured it out. It's getting easier for her. She's getting in that right moment. When you line things up, in the right moment at the right time, it's very hard to beat certain people, and Kayla's definitely one of the hardest people to beat."
After just two fights in the UFC, Harrison has earned a title shot. Should she be successful against Peña, Abdelaziz hopes winning the title will bring former two-division champion Amanda Nunes out of retirement for a potentially massive fight.
"She's going to smash Julianna, and after that, Amanda Nunes hopefully can come out (of retirement), and she can beat her too."
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