After Latest Win, Mayra Bueno Silva Wants to Face Julianna Pena for Vacant UFC Title

The UFC women’s bantamweight division is wide open following Amanda Nunes’ retirement in June.

Mayra Bueno Silva emerged as one of the top contenders for the vacant 135-pound on Saturday night when she scored a second-round submission victory of ex-champ Holly Holm in the UFC on ESPN 49 main event. It was a little bit of a surreal experience for the 31-year-old Brazilian.

“I’m very happy. I don’t know what’s happening today,” Bueno Silva said at the post-fight press conference. “It’s Holly Holm. I’m very emotional. I’m grateful for my [life], for my team.

“God told me, ‘Hey, you win this fight.’ I believe too much in God. This week, I’m afraid of Holly, every f—-ing day. I cry too much. I don’t believe me in this fight. When I win...what? I win! This was in my mind.”

After a rough stretch in which “Sheetara” won just one of four Octagon appearances from 2020 to 2021, the American Top Team export has put together a four-bout winning streak within the Las Vegas-based organization. That, Bueno Silva believes, puts her ahead of the likes of Raquel Pennington in the bantamweight contender’s queue, and it’s why she called out Julianna Peña in her post-fight interview.

“Raquel, no, because the UFC gave her a chance to fight with me, and she didn’t want it,” Bueno Silva said. “So if she doesn’t want it, it’s Julianna Peña and me because I am a fan of Julianna. Raquel too, but she didn’t want to fight with me, so now I don’t want to fight with her. Julianna deserves it. I deserve it. UFC, let’s go.”

Pena, who had a brief reign as bantamweight queen after upsetting Nunes in December 2021, was quick to react to Bueno Silva’s callout on social media.

“Did I hear someone say the name of the people’s champ? Perfect,” Pena wrote. “Get in line. I’ll do you and Raquel on the same night. Who else wants a beating?”