Holly Holm Withdraws from May 8 Showdown Against Julianna Pena

Holly Holm has been forced to pull out of a UFC Fight Night clash with Julianna Pena on May 8.

Pena herself initially brought word of Holm’s exit from the card via Twitter on Saturday night. According to a report from the Albuquerque Journal Holm canceled a boxing commentary gig on Friday involving a Claressa Shields fight due to a “nagging physical issue.” The nature of the ailment was not disclosed, but apparently it was enough to also prevent her from facing Pena in approximately two months.

Love watching these title fights. One in particular...
as I’ve just been informed that #HollyHolm is injured and has pulled from our scheduled bout May 8. I wish her a full recovery #ufc259

— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) March 7, 2021

It’s unclear if Pena will remain on the card, but “The Venezuelan Vixen” didn’t hesitate to call for a matchup with two-division champion Amanda Nunes, who shellacked Megan Anderson to defend her featherweight belt in the the UFC 259 co-headliner.

Nunes didn’t seem especially interested in the possibility when informed of Pena’s callout.

“So Holly is off, she [Pena] can fight Germaine,” Nunes said at the UFC 259 post-fight press conference. “I feel like she has to get in the mix, but we’ll see. I’m going to go back down, I’m going to see my diet because now I’m pretty heavy, so yeah. I’m a champion. I’m never going to turn down fights. I’m going to be facing whoever Dana White wants me to face.”

The May 8 UFC Fight Night card doesn’t yet have an official headliner or location.