Julianna Peña Explained

Julianna Peña
Other Names:The Venezuelan Vixen
Birth Name:Julianna Nicole Peña
Birth Date:19 August 1989
Birth Place:Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Height:5ft 7in
Weight:135lb
Weight Class:Bantamweight (2013–present)
Flyweight (2013)
Reach In:69
Reach Footnote:[1]
Stance:Orthodox
Fighting Out Of:Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Team:SikJitsu (2008–present)[2]
Luiz Claudio Combat Team
Valle Flow Striking (2016–present)[3]
Gregory Boxing & Muay Thai
Rank:Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu [4]
Years Active:2009–present
Mma Kowin:3
Mma Subwin:5
Mma Decwin:3
Mma Koloss:1
Mma Subloss:2
Mma Decloss:2
Sherdog:50883

Julianna Nicole Peña[5] (born August 19, 1989) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where she is a former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion. Peña is the first woman to win The Ultimate Fighter. As of August 1, 2022, she is #1 in the UFC women's bantamweight rankings, and as of January 23, 2024, she is ranked #5 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.[6]

Background

The youngest of four siblings, Julianna was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. Julianna graduated in 2007 from Mt. Spokane High School.[7] She then attended Spokane Community College.[8] In order to lose weight and channel aggression in her early adulthood, she enrolled in a cardio kickboxing class and subsequently transitioned to mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

After going 2–0 as an amateur, Peña made her professional MMA debut in May 2009. She won four consecutive fights but suffered her first defeat in April 2012 to future fellow The Ultimate Fighter 18 cast member Sarah Moras in a 140-pound catchweight bout.[9] The fight took place just two months and one week after Peña was involved in an accident with a drunk driver while walking in downtown Spokane in which she was knocked unconscious and suffered a broken nose.[10] [11] Ten months later she returned to professional competition in a fight in the flyweight division, a move down from the bantamweight division, losing by unanimous decision.

The Ultimate Fighter

In August 2013, it was announced that Peña was one of the fighters selected to be on .[12]

Peña faced Gina Mazany in the elimination fight to get into the house. She controlled the fight from early on, winning a clear unanimous decision victory after two rounds.[13] [14]

During the first tournament fight in the house, Peña faced veteran and top-ten ranked Shayna Baszler. Ronda Rousey selected this match-up between the two first female picks. The highly ranked and more experienced Baszler was widely considered the favorite. After a back and forth first round in which Peña landed effective boxing combinations and escaped several of Baszler's submission attempts, Peña came out hard in the second round, connecting with powerful knee strikes that staggered Baszler. The fight went to the ground, where Peña was able to achieve back mount and won via rear naked choke for perhaps the biggest upset victory of the season.[15]

In the semifinals, Peña faced off against Sarah Moras. The two fought previously in a professional bout in 2012, with Peña losing after suffering an injury due to an armbar which forced the doctor to stop the bout between the second and third rounds. Peña won the fight via guillotine choke in the second round to avenge the loss.[16]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Peña faced Jessica Rakoczy in the finals on November 30, 2013, at The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale. She won the bout via TKO in the final seconds of the first round and became TUF 18 women’s bantamweight champion.[17]

Injury

Peña was expected to face Jessica Andrade at UFC 171 on March 15, 2014.[18] However, Peña pulled out of the bout after suffering an injury to her right knee. She suffered the injury while grappling in training, ultimately damaging, among other aspects, her ACL, MCL, LCL and meniscus. Despite the severity of the injury, doctors assured Peña that her right knee would return to full strength following surgery and rehabilitation.[19] The injury kept Peña out of action for the rest of 2014.[20]

UFC return

Peña returned to face Milana Dudieva on April 4, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 63. She won the fight via TKO in the first round. The win also earned Peña her first Performance of the Night bonus award.[21]

Peña next faced Jessica Eye on October 3, 2015, at UFC 192.[22] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[23]

Peña faced former title challenger Cat Zingano at UFC 200 on July 9, 2016.[24] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[25]

Peña faced Valentina Shevchenko at UFC on Fox 23 on January 28, 2017.[26] She lost the fight via armbar submission in the second round.[27]

On October 14, 2017, Peña announced that she was pregnant and would be taking an indefinite hiatus from the sport.[28] On July 13, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 155, nearly two and a half years from her last bout, she returned and faced former UFC Women's Flyweight Champion Nicco Montaño, replacing an injured Sara McMann.[29] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[30]

Peña was expected to face Aspen Ladd on March 28, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 8.[31] However, Peña pulled out of the fight in early March citing an injury.[32]

Peña faced Germaine de Randamie on October 4, 2020, at .[33] She lost the fight via a guillotine choke in round three.[34]

Peña was expected to face Sara McMann on January 16, 2021, at UFC on ABC 1 before being pushed back a week later to UFC 257 on January 24, 2021.[35] [36] [37] Peña won the fight via submission in round three.[38]

Peña was scheduled to face Holly Holm on May 8, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 24.[39] However, Holm was forced to withdraw from the bout citing hydronephrosis.[40]

Bantamweight champion

Peña was expected to face Amanda Nunes for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship on August 7, 2021, at UFC 265.[41] However Nunes tested positive for COVID-19 on July 29, 2021.[42] [43] The bout was rescheduled to UFC 269 on December 11, 2021.[44] After a dominant round one from Nunes, Peña came back in the second to win the bout and championship by rear-naked choke submission in what is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.[45] [46] [47] [48]

On February 5, 2022, it was announced that Peña and Nunes would be the coaches for The Ultimate Fighter 30 on ESPN+, which would feature contestants from the heavyweight and women's flyweight divisions.[49]

A rematch against Amanda Nunes for the UFC Women's Bantamweight title took place on July 30, 2022, at UFC 277.[50] Peña lost the fight by unanimous decision.[51]

A trilogy bout with Amanda Nunes was scheduled to take place on June 10, 2023, at UFC 289.[52] However, on May 2, 2023, it was announced that Peña pulled out of the bout due to broken ribs she sustained during training camp. Irene Aldana, who was scheduled to headline, was subsequently chosen to replace her.[53]

Peña is scheduled to face Raquel Pennington for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship on October 5, 2024 at UFC 307.[54]

Film and television

Peña was featured in the award-winning mixed martial arts documentary Fight Life, the film is directed by James Z. Feng and was released in 2013.[55]

Peña is an announcer, along with Max Bretos, for Combate Americas' English language broadcast on DAZN.[56]

Personal life

Julianna is the younger sister of former KREM 2 reporter and morning/noon meteorologist Grace Peña.[57] Peña is of Mexican and Venezuelan descent.[58]

In January 2018, Peña gave birth to her first child, a daughter.[59]

Legal issues

On December 20, 2015, Peña was arrested in Spokane, Washington and charged with two counts of assault due to an altercation with bar staff following an earlier street fight in which Josh Gow, her training partner on the Sikjitsu fight team, had been injured. A judge later granted a stipulation order of continuance in her case such that if Peña had no other incidents for a year, the case would be dismissed.[60]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

|-|Loss|align=center|11–5|Amanda Nunes|Decision (unanimous)|UFC 277||align=center|5|align=center|5:00|Dallas, Texas, United States||-|Win|align=center|11–4|Amanda Nunes|Submission (rear-naked choke)|UFC 269||align=center|2|align=center|3:26|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|10–4|Sara McMann|Submission (rear-naked choke)|UFC 257 ||align=center|3|align=center|3:39|Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates| |-|Loss|align=center|9–4|Germaine de Randamie|Technical submission (guillotine choke)|||align=center|3|align=center|3:25|Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates||-|Win|align=center|9–3|Nicco Montaño|Decision (unanimous)| ||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Sacramento, California, United States||-|Loss|align=center|8–3|Valentina Shevchenko|Submission (armbar)|||align=center|2|align=center|4:29|Denver, Colorado, United States| |-|Win|align=center|8–2|Cat Zingano|Decision (unanimous)|UFC 200||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States| |-|Win|align=center|7–2|Jessica Eye|Decision (unanimous)|UFC 192||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Houston, Texas, United States||-|Win|align=center|6–2|Milana Dudieva|TKO (punches and elbows)|||align=center|1|align=center|3:59|Fairfax, Virginia, United States||-|Win|align=center| 5–2|Jessica Rakoczy|TKO (punches)|||align=center|1|align=center|4:59|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Loss|align=center| 4–2|DeAnna Bennett|Decision (unanimous)|Showdown Fights 10||align=center| 3|align=center| 5:00|Orem, Utah, United States||-|Loss|align=center| 4–1|Sarah Moras|TKO (doctor stoppage)|Conquest of the Cage 11||align=center| 2|align=center| 5:00|Airway Heights, Washington, United States||-|Win|align=center| 4–0|Rachael Swatez|Submission (guillotine choke)|Conquest of the Cage 10||align=center| 2|align=center| 0:17|Airway Heights, Washington, United States||-|Win|align=center| 3–0|Stephanie Webber|Submission (armbar)|CageSport 8||align=center| 2|align=center| 2:54|Tacoma, Washington, United States||-|Win|align=center| 2–0|Robyn Dunne|TKO (punches)|IFC 34: Return to Canada||align=center| 1|align=center| N/A|Penticton, British Columbia, Canada| |-|Win|align=center| 1–0|Raylene Harvey|Submission (rear-naked choke)|ExciteFight: Spokane Fight Night 5||align=center| 1|align=center| 2:58|Spokane, Washington, United States|

|-|Win|align=center|3–0|Sarah Moras|Submission (guillotine choke)|rowspan=3|| (air date)|align=center|2|align=center|3:31|rowspan=3|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|2–0|Shayna Baszler|Submission (rear-naked choke)| (air date)|align=center|2|align=center|3:07||-|Win|align=center|1–0|Gina Mazany|Decision (unanimous)| (air date)|align=center|2|align=center|5:00|[78]

Pay-per-view bouts

!No.!Event!Fight!Date!Venue!City!PPV Buys
1.UFC 277Peña vs. Nunes 2July 30, 2022American Airlines CenterDallas, Texas, United StatesNot Disclosed[79]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fight Card - UFC 192 Cormier vs. Gustafsson. UFC.com. October 4, 2015.
  2. Web site: Ahead of UFC 200, Julianna Pena says, 'My job is to be a gladiator'. Deanna Cioppa. July 8, 2016. ESPN.
  3. Web site: UFC's Julianna Pena was 'very, very heartbroken' after loss to Valentina Shevchenko. Mike Bohn. June 16, 2017. MMAjunkie.com.
  4. Julianna Peña # 8 The Jiu JItsu Legends Podcast. Chris Engstrom. Luiz Claudio. August 3, 2020.
  5. Web site: State Of Nevada . Boxing.nv.gov . 2016-08-01.
  6. Web site: UFC Rankings, Division Rankings, P4P rankings, UFC Champions UFC.com . 2024-01-23 . www.ufc.com.
  7. Web site: J. Pena High School Alum.
  8. https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianna-pe%C3%B1a-636b23a0?trk=prof-samename-picture
  9. Web site: Sarah Moras faces Julianna Peña at Conquest of the Cage 11 | Women's MMA Today . Wmmatoday.wordpress.com . 2012-04-17 . 2015-03-10.
  10. Web site: Howard . Cory . Suspected Drunk Driver Hits Tree; Tree Falls On Woman In Downtow - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather . Khq.com . 2014-02-03 . 2015-03-10.
  11. Web site: TUF Fighter: Julianna Pena. February 4, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203042845/http://www.ufc.com/tuf/fighter/Julianna-Pena . December 3, 2013 .
  12. Web site: 'Ultimate Fighter' Season 18 cast revealed, including LaRosa, Baszler, Modafferi . mmajunkie.com . 2013-08-15 . 2013-08-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130826203655/http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/08/ultimate-fighter-season-18-cast-revealed-including-larosa-baszler-modafferi . 2013-08-26 .
  13. Web site: TUF 18 Elimination Bout: Pena vs. Mazany | UFC &reg - Media . Ufc.com . 2013-09-07 . 2015-03-10.
  14. Web site: Whitman . Mike . 'TUF 18' Recap: Episode 1 . Sherdog.com . 2013-09-04 . 2015-03-10.
  15. Web site: Steven Rondina . TUF 18 Episode Two Results and Recap: Shocking End to Baszler vs. Pena . Bleacher Report . 2013-09-11 . 2015-03-10.
  16. Web site: Episode No. 11 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate' . MMAjunkie . 2013-11-14. 2015-03-10.
  17. Web site: TUF 18 Finale Results: Julianna Peña TKOs Jessica Rakoczy to Become First Female Ultimate Fighter. 2013-12-01. MMAWeekly.com. en-US. 2018-12-12.
  18. Web site: Jimy Hettes-Dennis Bermudez, Julianna Pena-Jessica Andrade booked for UFC 171. mmajunkie.com. 2014-01-06. 2014-01-07. Matt Erickson.
  19. Web site: Julianna Pena out of UFC 171 after suffering devastating knee injury. mmafighting.com. 2014-01-29. 2014-01-29. Shaun Al-Shatti.
  20. Web site: Kyle Symes . Dana White: TUF 18 Winner Julianna Pena out Two Years, Should Leave Gym . Bleacher Report . 2014-01-30 . 2015-03-10.
  21. Web site: UFC Fight Night 63 bonuses: Four get $50,000 for 'Performance of the Night' efforts. mmajunkie.com. Staff. 2015-04-04. 2015-04-04.
  22. Web site: Jessica Eye meets 'TUF 18' winner Julianna Pena at UFC 192 in Houston. mmajunkie.com. 2015-08-04.
  23. Web site: UFC 192 results: Julianna Pena outworks Jessica Eye in hard-fought ground battle. 2015-10-04. MMAjunkie. en. 2018-12-12.
  24. Web site: Cat Zingano Vs Julianna Pena Confirmed For UFC 200. Cole. Ross. 2016-04-08. MMA Insight. en-US. 2018-12-12.
  25. News: UFC 200 results: Julianna Pena outgrapples former title challenger Cat Zingano for decision win. 2018-12-11. MMAjunkie. 2018-12-11. en-US.
  26. Web site: Julianna Pena vs. Valentina Shevchenko to headline "UFC on Fox" card at Denver. 2016-12-06. The Denver Post. en-US. 2018-12-12.
  27. News: UFC on FOX 23 results: Valentina Shevchenko taps Julianna Pena for first submission win in nearly 11 years. 2017-01-29. MMAjunkie. en-US. 2017-01-30.
  28. Web site: UFC contender Julianna Pena announces pregnancy, putting career on hold. 2017-10-14. MMAjunkie.com. en-US. 2019-07-14.
  29. Web site: With Sara McMann out, Nicco Montano expected to face Julianna Pena at UFC Sacramento. Damon Martin. mmafighting.com. 2018-06-19. 2019-06-19.
  30. Web site: UFC Sacramento: Julianna Pena grinds out decision victory over Nicco Montano. 2019-07-13. FanSided. en-US. 2019-07-14.
  31. Web site: Aspen Ladd vs. Juliana Pena Announced for UFC Columbus. Anderson. Jay. 2020-01-13. Cageside Press. en-US. 2020-01-13.
  32. Web site: Injury forces Julianna Pena out of UFC on ESPN 8 fight vs. Aspen Ladd. John Morgan. 2020-03-06. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. 2020-03-06.
  33. Web site: Germaine De Randamie faces Julianna Pena at UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Aldana. Tees. David. 2020-07-26. fightful.com. 2020-07-29.
  34. Web site: Doherty. Dan. 2020-10-04. UFC Fight Island 4 Results: Germaine De Randamie Sleeps Julianna Pena With Guillotine. 2020-10-04. Cageside Press. en-US.
  35. Web site: Julianna Peña and Sara McMann meet on January 16. mmadna.nl. Staff. 2020-11-18. 2020-11-18.
  36. Web site: Sara McMann vs. Julianna Pena added to UFC Fight Night on Jan. 16. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun. 2020-11-19. 2020-12-26.
  37. Web site: UFC 257 gets Julianna Pena vs. Sara McMann after fight pushed back one week. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King and Mike Bohn. 2020-12-26. 2020-12-26.
  38. Web site: Anderson. Jay. 2021-01-23. UFC 257 Results: Julianna Pena Gets Back in Win Column with Late Sub of Sara McMann. 2021-01-24. Cageside Press. en-US.
  39. Web site: DNA. MMA. 2021-02-20. Voormalig kampioene Holly Holm treft TUF winnares Julianna Peña tijdens UFC evenement op 8 mei. 2021-02-20. MMA DNA. en-US.
  40. Web site: Holly Holm reveals kidney swelling forced her out of Julianna Pena bout, set for surgery. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun. 2021-03-09. 2021-03-09.
  41. Web site: Gonzalez. Gabriel. 2021-04-15. Amanda Nunes Expected to Defend Bantamweight Title Against Julianna Pena at UFC 265. 2021-04-16. Cageside Press. en-US.
  42. Web site: 2021-07-29. Nunes tests positive; title defense vs. Pena off. 2021-07-29. ESPN.com. en.
  43. Web site: 2021-07-29. Amanda Nunes' positive COVID-19 test scraps UFC 265 title defense. 2021-07-29. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  44. Web site: DNA. MMA. 2021-08-30. Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Peña nu tijdens UFC 269. 2021-08-30. MMA DNA. en-US.
  45. Web site: Martin. Damon. 2021-12-12. UFC 269 results: Julianna Pena shocks the world, taps out Amanda Nunes to become bantamweight champion. 2021-12-12. MMA Fighting. en.
  46. Web site: Amanda Nunes loses bantamweight title in shocking upset to Julianna Peña. 2021-12-12. sports.yahoo.com. 12 December 2021 . en-US.
  47. Web site: Julianna Pena upsets Amanda Nunes, captures women's bantamweight belt in UFC 269 co-main event. 2021-12-12. www.sportingnews.com. 12 December 2021 . en.
  48. Web site: 2021-12-12. Julianna Pena defeats Amanda Nunes for bantamweight title in UFC 269 shocker. 2021-12-12. Los Angeles Times. en-US.
  49. Web site: 2022-02-04. 'The Ultimate Fighter' Season 30 to be coached by Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes; rematch to follow. 2022-02-05. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  50. Web site: Lee . Alexander K. . 2022-05-21 . Julianna Peña vs. Amanda Nunes 2 announced for UFC 277 main event . 2022-05-22 . MMA Fighting . en.
  51. Web site: UFC 277 results: Amanda Nunes reclaims 135 lbs title with lopsided decision over Julianna Pena. bloodyelbow.com. Eddie Mercado. 2022-07-31. 2022-07-31.
  52. Web site: Evanoff . Josh . 2023-04-07 . Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena 3 to headline UFC 289 in June . 2023-04-07 . BJPenn.com . en-US.
  53. Web site: 2023-05-02. Irene Aldana replaces Julianna Peña at UFC 289, challenges Amanda Nunes for title . 2023-05-02. MMA Junkie . en-US.
  54. Web site: Report: Julianna Pena and Raquel Pennington slated for title bout later this year . 2024-06-28 . www.sportsnet.ca . en.
  55. Web site: FIGHT LIFE - MMA Documentary by James Z. Feng . Fightlife.tv . 2015-03-10 . https://archive.today/20120730175410/http://www.fightlife.tv/ . 2012-07-30 . dead .
  56. Web site: Buffington . Penny . Gilbert Melendez and Julianna Pena Join Combate Americas . MMA Fight Radio . September 13, 2018 . 2018-09-13 . 2018-10-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181011194624/http://mmafightradio.com/2018/09/13/gilbert-melendez-and-julianna-pena-join-combate-americas/ . dead .
  57. Web site: Local MMA fighter makes waves on The Ultimate Fighter . March 6, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140502052044/http://www.krem.com/news/local/Local-contestant-makes-waves-on-The-Ultimate-Fighter-224292491.html . May 2, 2014.
  58. Web site:
    1. ChicaBoss: Why UFC Fighter Julianna Pena Marches to The Beat of Her Own Drum
    . peopleenespanol.com. People Magazine. 15 October 2017. Thatiana Diaz.
  59. Web site: Julianna Peña eyes 2019 return to UFC: 'I can't wait to get back in the division and join them' . Jose Youngs. December 7, 2018. mmafighting.com.
  60. Web site: UFC's Julianna Pena agrees to counseling following assault arrest, will have fight booked shortly . mmafighting.com . 2016-12-14 . Marc Raimondi. 2016-04-04 .
  61. Web site: UFC 269 bonuses: Dana White feeling generous, 8 fighters get $50,000 checks. mmafighting.com. Newswire. 2021-12-12. 2021-12-12.
  62. Web site: Dana White's 2021 President's Choice Awards - UFC Honors. YouTube. UFC. 2022-01-16. 2024-01-13.
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  64. Web site: MMA Junkie's 'Submission of the Month' for January: An Olympic medalist taps out. February 1, 2021. MMAjunkie.com.
  65. Web site: Bohn . Mike . MMA Junkie Staff . MMA Junkie's Submission of the Month for December: The biggest upset in UFC history . mmajunkie.usatoday.com . 2 January 2022 . 1 January 2021.
  66. Web site: MMA Junkie's 2021 Upset of the Year: Julianna Peña def. Amanda Nunes. January 3, 2022. MMAjunkie.com. Danny Segura.
  67. Web site: UFC Records - Women's Bantamweight . statleaders.ufc.com. 2022-04-09.
  68. Web site: MMA 2021 Year in Review: Upset of the Year. December 29, 2021. cagesidepress.com.
  69. Web site: Upset Of The Year – LowKickMMA 2021 Awards. December 29, 2021. lowkickmma.com.
  70. Web site: Sherdog's 2021 Upset of the Year. December 24, 2021. Sherdog. Brian Knapp.
  71. Web site: Kamaru Usman, Julianna Peña highlight MMA's year: The top fighters, fight, finish and moments of 2021. December 28, 2021. Marc Raimondi. ESPN.
  72. Web site: Bleacher Report 2021 MMA Awards: Biggest Upset. December 22, 2021. Bleacher Report. Scott Harris.
  73. Web site: 2021 MMA Sucka Year End Awards. Andrew Harbaugh. January 4, 2022. mmasucka.com.
  74. Web site: 2021 MMA Awards: Best of the rest including top prospect, coach, submission and KO of the year. December 29, 2021. Yahoo! Sports. Kevin Iole.
  75. Web site: UFC awards 2021 including best fight to best KO and biggest upset. December 25, 2021. Harry Davies. Daily Mirror.
  76. Web site: Upset Of The Year – LowKickMMA 2021 Awards. December 24, 2021. Jordan Ellis. lowkickmma.com.
  77. Web site: MMA Fighting Newswire. 2022-12-09. 2022 World MMA Awards Results. mmafighting.com. 17 December 2022.
  78. Web site: Julianna. Sherdog.com. Sherdog. 2018-12-12.
  79. Web site: UFC 277: Peña vs. Nunes 2 MMA Event . Tapology . en.