Former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm will seek her third consecutive victory when she faces Julianna Pena in an untitled match in May, UFC officials said on Friday.
The 135-pound dispute will take place at UFC Fight Night on May 8. The UFC has yet to announce an official venue for the event.
Holm (14-5) comes from consecutive victories by unanimous decision, against Raquel Pennington in January 2020 and Irene Aldana in October. His last loss came in a bantamweight title fight against two-weight champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 239 in July 2019. Holm’s last three defeats came with a championship at stake, which dates back to 2017.
Fighting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Holm, 39, will make her fourth consecutive appearance at 135 pounds, but she also competed at 145 pounds.
Pena (10-4) comes from a submission victory against former title challenger Sara McMann at UFC 257 last month in Abu Dhabi. Fighting outside of Chicago, Pena is 2-1 in his last three games, with the defeat coming to another former title challenger and featherweight champion at Randmaie’s Germaine. A victory against Holm would catapult her into the title fight at 135.