UFC 307 this past October was a huge night for the women's bantamweight division but since the Octagon's trip to Salt Lake City, there have been no updates.
Ali Abdelaziz believes that the promotion will not hesitate to move forward with new plans if the reigning 135-pound champion isn't going to be ready anytime soon.
In the co-main event of the evening that night, Julianna Peña reclaimed the bantamweight title via a closely contested decision victory over Raquel Pennington.
Kayla Harrison made the division's next steps very simple in the main card opener at UFC 307 where she recorded her second win inside the Octagon over Ketlen Vieira.
In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Harrison's manager provided the latest update on the bantamweight title picture.
He stated that Peña is expected to be out for some time and her inactivity has been a big issue for the two-time champion in recent years.
Abdelaziz said that as a result, there have already been some talks about Harrison fighting for an interim title in the mean time until the champion is ready to defend the belt:
“This is what I have been told: Julianna Peña, if she’s not ready to fight Kayla, she might have some health problems – it’s going to be an interim title,” Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie. “One hundred, percent this is what’s going to happen. The UFC is just not going to hold the division because someone doesn’t want to fight or is injured. If you are out more than eight, nine months then UFC should make an interim title. And I love that.
“I don’t think any division should be held because someone is injured. If you as the champion defend your title a lot, I think you get this courtesy. But if you just became the champion and want to take a year off, I don’t think you should get this courtesy.”
Harrison had previously stated ahead of UFC 307 that the worst scenario for her would be Peña winning the title and then taking time off before defending it.
Abdelaziz agrees that if the champion won't be back anytime soon, the top contender should be allowed to stay busy.
“I think 100 percent (Pennington),” Abdelaziz said. “This is what she deserves. I’m not the matchmakers. There’s a guy from Houston, Texas, named Mick Maynard who does that and it’s his job.”
Watch the full interview below:
