Morning Report: Julianna Pena sheds light on gruesome training incident

Since tearing her ACL, MCL, LCL and meniscus during a training incident in February, TUF 18 winner Julianna Pena has been relatively reserved on the details of how the injury occurred. With UFC president Dana White labeling the episode as an assault and training partner Michael Chiesa calling it an overblown gym accident, Pena is trying to set the record straight.

Speaking with The Jason Ellis Show (via MMA Mania) Pena’s current explanation seems quite a bit closer to Chiesa’s than White’s.

“I don’t think I accidentally explained it incorrectly to [Dana White] — I think I explained it 110 percent exactly how the story went…. What happened was, I wasn’t even wearing an Ultimate Fighter shirt … because the kid told me he thought it was an Ultimate Fighter rash guard. But, here’s the thing, it’s a gray rash guard, okay? It had a little UFC emblem on it. I was wearing that, I was late. So, when I got there, he was like ‘hurry up, let’s go.’ So, I get on the mat, I hit the clock, and he says, ‘Oh, you’re wearing your Ultimate Fighter rash guard. I was like, what’s that supposed to mean? ‘That you’re really tough, I’m really scared.’ I’m like, whatever, and we slapped hands, and a minute later, my knee was tore out.”

According to White, Pena’s original version of the injury was jarring enough for him to publicly slam her gym on Twitter, pleading with the prospect to immediately leave Sik-Jitsu Fighting Systems in Spokane, Wash.

“Normally, in the gym, when there’s tons of people we start on our knees, you know there’s not enough room,” said Pena. “But, in this instance, it was just me and him on the mat. No one was there, and we slapped hands, and we started going, but right when we started going, it was like ‘Urghh!’ fighting for your life, just cock strong, you know, both of us, and I was like, ‘you’re not taking me down, bro.’ And he wasn’t, so, he was trying to take me down as much as he could. So, I had my shoulder blades up against the back wall, and he’s trying to rear-naked choke me from the side of my body. It’s not even close, and it pissed me off, and I’m like, be technical. Don’t try to cock strong, you know? I was turning into him, and he was trying to drag me to the ground and rear-naked choke me at the same time, just trying to use all of his weight to try to drop me to the ground. So, when I turned into it, it was just the amount of force — it just blew.”

Pena underwent a successful surgery to repair the knee in February. Although she’s expected to make a full recovery, she’s likely to remain sidelined through 2015.

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5 MUST-READ STORIES

‘Delusional.’ Eddie Bravo believes he clearly got the better of Royler Gracie in their draw at Metamoris. “I didn’t get the tap, but everyone who saw that match knew I smoked him.”

Officer Spider. Anderson Silva is studying to become a police officer at the LAPD.

Chope. UFC castoff Will Chope and his ex-wife released a joint statement regarding being cut for assault charges.

Alpha Male. Urijah Faber talks bouts with Renan Barao, TJ Dillashaw getting a title shot, and Team Alpha Male eventually holding UFC gold.

Dat heel hook. Steve Carl releases the results of his MRI following a submission loss to Rousimar Palhares at WSOF 9.

Star-divide

MEDIA STEW

Star-divide

KO roundup.

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Sonnen & Sack.

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Ronda Rousey filming a scene for ‘Entourage.’

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Anthony Pettis ready for any TUF run-ins with the Diaz bros.

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Highlights from Cage Warriors FC: Fight Night 10.

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2 for 1 on commercials.

Makes Forrest’s spot look like a Kurosawa.

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Long watches.

Knuckle Up #424: Metamoris 3 Mania, Bellator 114, WSOF 9

Eddie Bravo Radio – Episode 52 – Joey Diaz & Tait Fletcher (03/30/2014)

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TWEETS

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Get well soon.

Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes. Surgery was a success! http://t.co/hU3Yb2cZwU

Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) April 2, 2014

Just got out of my 1st Dr. Appointment since surgery. Everything looks good, now its physical therapy time…

Carlos Condit (@CarlosCondit) April 1, 2014

Three days after the fight, not too bad lol. pic.twitter.com/5VC3XPwuRM

Josh Rettinghouse ♓ (@JRettinghouse) April 2, 2014

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Big fan of those court room neck braces.

Contest Announcement: Be the first to name the fake injury Wanderlei uses to weasel out of our fight…

— chael sonnen (@sonnench) April 1, 2014

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April damn fools.

After 22 years of coaching I choose to hang my hat up. Thanks for all the love and support but time for me and my family.

Greg Jackson (@GJfightmaster) April 1, 2014

After all these years at heavyweight at think it’s time to change things up. Next stop: 205! @ufc #MMA #ufc

Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) April 1, 2014

Does this make my butt look big? pic.twitter.com/Wu1iAT9kpw

Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) April 2, 2014

Anyone else excited for @RondaRousey vs @ginacarano ? #UFC175

Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) April 1, 2014

I’m pregnant lol #gotcha

Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) April 1, 2014

Big news: Ronda Rousey’s next opponent!? (pic) pic.twitter.com/KRBzlIN9pN

Roxanne Modafferi (@Roxyfighter) April 1, 2014

My wife and I told the kids we were moving to Texas this morning. Both started crying until we told them #AprilFools

Pat Miletich (@patmiletich) April 1, 2014

Coming back from injuries, the @UFC asked me to fight @JohnyHendricks for my come back fight. So I had… http://t.co/hCKGiD37Mu

— Bahadurzada (@SiyarTheKiller) April 1, 2014

If somebody April fools me today I’m gonna punch them in the face 👊💥 #justsayin

Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) April 1, 2014

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No mullet in EA UFC?

@AdamConklinMMA: @mike_pyle Are you in it?”no @ufc didn’t put me in the game from what I hear they have control of who is .. Freaking sucks

Mike Pyle (@Mike_Pyle) April 1, 2014

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Pretty straight forward.

The reason I’m fighting in May and not waiting for the winner of Chandler/Alvarez is because I have bills to pay just like everyone else

Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) April 1, 2014

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Ouch.

Removing my glove after Chuck broke my arm: http://t.co/a2Ra6He4qP via @YouTube

Rich Franklin (@RichFranklin) April 1, 2014

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Ninja on wire.

This time I made it!Dessa vez foi quase lá!Vou continuar! http://t.co/cvHcENYG7C

Lyoto Machida (@lyotomachidafw) April 2, 2014

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Training secrets.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Apr. 1 2014)

Uriah Hall vs. Thiago Santos at UFC 175

Andy Enz vs. Marcelo Guimaraes at UFC Fight Night: San Antonio

Yves Edwards vs. Piotr Hallmann moved from UFC 173 to UFC Fight Night: Albuquerque

Will Brooks vs. Nate Jolly at Bellator 120

cancelled Shayna Baszler vs. Sarah Kaufman at TUF Nations Finale

Tom Niinimaki vs. Thiago Tavares at UFC Fight Night: Munoz vs. Mousasi

Star-divide

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Spartachris.

One mans take on MMAs scoring system

Hypothetically

its late in the 3rd round. Its a close fight with each fighter winning 1 round a piece and could be anybody’s fight should they do something significant. Its a even 3rd round until Fighter A completes a takedown with ten seconds left and fighter B rises back to his feet right before the bell sounds the end of the round and the end of the fight. Its off to the judges score cards and all three judges score the fight 29-28 for Fighter A.

As soon as the scorecards were read and the winner was announced (maybe even before that) most fight fans would assume it was because of the takedown late in round 3 that won him the fight and in most cases they would be correct. But why? Was that takedown damaging? Did he do anything with the takedown besides ride out the round?

Here’s my dilemma. If Fighter A takes down Fighter B he earns himself points towards winning the round even if he does nothing with it (improve his position, look for submissions or try and inflict damage) and if Fighter B stands up a couple seconds after the takedown and or was completed shouldn’t he get just as much credit for it as the takedown?

Check out the rest of the post here.

Star-divide

Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.

Since tearing her ACL, MCL, LCL and meniscus during a training incident in February, TUF 18 winner Julianna Pena has been relatively reserved on the details of how the injury occurred. With UFC president Dana White labeling the episode as an assault and training partner Michael Chiesa calling it an overblown gym accident, Pena is trying to set the record straight.

Speaking with The Jason Ellis Show (via MMA Mania) Pena’s current explanation seems quite a bit closer to Chiesa’s than White’s.

“I don’t think I accidentally explained it incorrectly to [Dana White] — I think I explained it 110 percent exactly how the story went…. What happened was, I wasn’t even wearing an Ultimate Fighter shirt … because the kid told me he thought it was an Ultimate Fighter rash guard. But, here’s the thing, it’s a gray rash guard, okay? It had a little UFC emblem on it. I was wearing that, I was late. So, when I got there, he was like ‘hurry up, let’s go.’ So, I get on the mat, I hit the clock, and he says, ‘Oh, you’re wearing your Ultimate Fighter rash guard. I was like, what’s that supposed to mean? ‘That you’re really tough, I’m really scared.’ I’m like, whatever, and we slapped hands, and a minute later, my knee was tore out.”

According to White, Pena’s original version of the injury was jarring enough for him to publicly slam her gym on Twitter, pleading with the prospect to immediately leave Sik-Jitsu Fighting Systems in Spokane, Wash.

“Normally, in the gym, when there’s tons of people we start on our knees, you know there’s not enough room,” said Pena. “But, in this instance, it was just me and him on the mat. No one was there, and we slapped hands, and we started going, but right when we started going, it was like ‘Urghh!’ fighting for your life, just cock strong, you know, both of us, and I was like, ‘you’re not taking me down, bro.’ And he wasn’t, so, he was trying to take me down as much as he could. So, I had my shoulder blades up against the back wall, and he’s trying to rear-naked choke me from the side of my body. It’s not even close, and it pissed me off, and I’m like, be technical. Don’t try to cock strong, you know? I was turning into him, and he was trying to drag me to the ground and rear-naked choke me at the same time, just trying to use all of his weight to try to drop me to the ground. So, when I turned into it, it was just the amount of force — it just blew.”

Pena underwent a successful surgery to repair the knee in February. Although she’s expected to make a full recovery, she’s likely to remain sidelined through 2015.

Star-divide

5 MUST-READ STORIES

‘Delusional.’ Eddie Bravo believes he clearly got the better of Royler Gracie in their draw at Metamoris. “I didn’t get the tap, but everyone who saw that match knew I smoked him.”

Officer Spider. Anderson Silva is studying to become a police officer at the LAPD.

Chope. UFC castoff Will Chope and his ex-wife released a joint statement regarding being cut for assault charges.

Alpha Male. Urijah Faber talks bouts with Renan Barao, TJ Dillashaw getting a title shot, and Team Alpha Male eventually holding UFC gold.

Dat heel hook. Steve Carl releases the results of his MRI following a submission loss to Rousimar Palhares at WSOF 9.

Star-divide

MEDIA STEW

Star-divide

KO roundup.

Star-divide

Sonnen & Sack.

Star-divide

Ronda Rousey filming a scene for ‘Entourage.’

Star-divide

Anthony Pettis ready for any TUF run-ins with the Diaz bros.

Star-divide

Highlights from Cage Warriors FC: Fight Night 10.

Star-divide

2 for 1 on commercials.

Makes Forrest’s spot look like a Kurosawa.

Star-divide

Long watches.

Knuckle Up #424: Metamoris 3 Mania, Bellator 114, WSOF 9

Eddie Bravo Radio – Episode 52 – Joey Diaz & Tait Fletcher (03/30/2014)

Star-divide

TWEETS

Star-divide

Get well soon.

Star-divide

Big fan of those court room neck braces.

Star-divide

April damn fools.

Star-divide

No mullet in EA UFC?

Star-divide

Pretty straight forward.

Star-divide

Ouch.

Star-divide

Ninja on wire.

Star-divide

Training secrets.

Star-divide

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Apr. 1 2014)

Uriah Hall vs. Thiago Santos at UFC 175

Andy Enz vs. Marcelo Guimaraes at UFC Fight Night: San Antonio

Yves Edwards vs. Piotr Hallmann moved from UFC 173 to UFC Fight Night: Albuquerque

Will Brooks vs. Nate Jolly at Bellator 120

cancelled Shayna Baszler vs. Sarah Kaufman at TUF Nations Finale

Tom Niinimaki vs. Thiago Tavares at UFC Fight Night: Munoz vs. Mousasi

Star-divide

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Spartachris.

One mans take on MMAs scoring system

Hypothetically

its late in the 3rd round. Its a close fight with each fighter winning 1 round a piece and could be anybody’s fight should they do something significant. Its a even 3rd round until Fighter A completes a takedown with ten seconds left and fighter B rises back to his feet right before the bell sounds the end of the round and the end of the fight. Its off to the judges score cards and all three judges score the fight 29-28 for Fighter A.

As soon as the scorecards were read and the winner was announced (maybe even before that) most fight fans would assume it was because of the takedown late in round 3 that won him the fight and in most cases they would be correct. But why? Was that takedown damaging? Did he do anything with the takedown besides ride out the round?

Here’s my dilemma. If Fighter A takes down Fighter B he earns himself points towards winning the round even if he does nothing with it (improve his position, look for submissions or try and inflict damage) and if Fighter B stands up a couple seconds after the takedown and or was completed shouldn’t he get just as much credit for it as the takedown?

Check out the rest of the post here.

Star-divide

Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.