Sara McMann-Julianna Pena Bantamweight Clash Moved to UFC 257 on Jan. 23

Sara McMann and Julianna Pena will square off one week later than originally anticipated.

The bantamweight bout has been moved from UFC on ABC 1 to UFC 257 for undisclosed reasons. MMAjunkie.com was first to report the change. UFC 257 takes place on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 23 and is headlined by a lightweight tilt between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier.

McMann returned after nearly a two-year absence at UFC Fight Night 166 in January, when she halted a two-bout losing streak with a unanimous decision triumph against Lina Lansberg. The Olympic silver medalist challenged for bantamweight gold in her second Octagon appearance, falling to Ronda Rousey via first-round TKO at UFC 170 in February 2014. She is 6-5 during her tenure with the Las Vegas-based promotion.

Pena’s lone appearance of 2020 came at UFC on ESPN 16, where she was submitted in the third round by Germaine de Randamie on Oct. 3. “The Ultimate Fighter 18” winner began her UFC career with four consecutive triumphs but has since lost two of her last three, falling to de Randamie and Valentina Shevchenko.