Tag: Julianna Pena

Julianna Peña Gives Defiant Reaction To Underdog Status At UFC 307

Given her history of upsetting the odds, former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña is welcoming the underdog status attached to her this week. For the third straight fight in her career, gold will be on the line when Peña makes the walk at Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view, set for the Delta Center in Salt […]

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Given her history of upsetting the odds, former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña is welcoming the underdog status attached to her this week.

For the third straight fight in her career, gold will be on the line when Peña makes the walk at Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view, set for the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“The Venezuelan Vixen” is set to co-headline the event in competition for Raquel Pennington’s 135-pound title. Peña previously won the belt and subsequently lost it in a two-fight series with Amanda Nunes.

Having not competed since her rematch with the “Lioness” in June 2022, the former champ is being counted out by some. That’s reflected in the odds, with her line currently at +136 on DraftKings.

But Peña has absolutely no qualms about entering her title challenge as the underdog…

Peña Doesn’t Feel Like The Underdog At UFC 307

During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Peña looked ahead to her first outing in over two years and chance to regain the title at 135 pounds.

While Pennington is favored to retain possession of the championship by the oddsmakers, “The Venezuelan Vixen” is more than ready to prove her doubters wrong — again.

“It doesn’t (surprise me). I think I was an 11-1 underdog at one point when I was fighting Amanda,” Peña said. “If you go back to the majority of my fights, I am always the underdog. In fact, right off the top of my head, I can’t even think of a time when I was the favorite.

“It’s just kind of like, I am that underdog role. I always have been,” Peña continued. “At the end of the day, it’s what I believe in my heart. I don’t feel like I’m the underdog. I’m very confident in what I am able to do. So you can call me an underdog, you can call me a favorite, you can call me whatever you want. Just remember that I am Julianna Peña, and I’m going to go in there and get my hand raised at any and all cost.”

While it wouldn’t mark the kind of shock win she achieved back in December 2021, Peña will be hoping to upset the odds once again en route to the women’s bantamweight throne this weekend.

Continue Reading Julianna Peña Gives Defiant Reaction To Underdog Status At UFC 307 at MMA News.

UFC 307: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

UFC 307 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins! The upcoming pay-per-view event at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah provides a chance for UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira to further enhance his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. […]

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UFC 307 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

The upcoming pay-per-view event at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah provides a chance for UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira to further enhance his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

After capturing the gold in November 2023 and withstanding challenges from Jamahal Hill and Ji?í Procházka this year, “Poatan” is next tasked with stalling the championship ambitions of Khalil Rountree to continue his reign atop the 205-pound mountain.

Title stakes will also be present for the co-main event, which will see Raquel Pennington make her first defense of the bantamweight belt opposite returning ex-divisional queen Julianna Peña.

Elsewhere on the UFC 307 card, the legendary José Aldo looks to continue his pursuit of a late-career title shot after a successful return from retirement this past May, Kayla Harrison makes her second Octagon outing, the always entertaining Kevin Holland shoots for the middleweight top 10, and former two-time strawweight queen Carla Esparza enters the cage for the final time.

Ahead of the event, all 24 fighters successfully made weight. With that, every fight has remained intact, and all that remains on Friday night is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 307 ceremonial weigh-ins!

Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 6 p.m. ET.

UFC 307 Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

Continue Reading UFC 307: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream at MMA News.

Kayla Harrison On How Julianna Peña Reached The Top In UFC: ‘Pretty, Tough As Nails, & Got A Big Mouth’

UFC women’s bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison doesn’t believe Julianna Peña’s rise has been down to fighting ability. Both women are in pursuit of the 135-pound belt, and it’ll be Peña who first gets a crack at two-time status before the ex-PFL champion gets the chance to realize her title ambitions on mixed martial arts’ biggest […]

Continue Reading Kayla Harrison On How Julianna Peña Reached The Top In UFC: ‘Pretty, Tough As Nails, & Got A Big Mouth’ at MMA News.

UFC women’s bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison doesn’t believe Julianna Peña’s rise has been down to fighting ability.

Both women are in pursuit of the 135-pound belt, and it’ll be Peña who first gets a crack at two-time status before the ex-PFL champion gets the chance to realize her title ambitions on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

“The Venezuelan Vixen,” who hasn’t competed since losing the gold to Amanda Nunes in their immediate 2022 rematch, is set to challenge newly crowned bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington in the co-main event of UFC 307 early next month.

Also in action on the pay-per-view lineup in Salt Lake City will be Harrison, who is tasked with following her successful UFC debut opposite Holly Holm with a triumph over the #2-ranked Ketlen Vieira.

The decision to grant the ex-titleholder a shot in her comeback fight over Harrison caused debate in the MMA community. And when it comes to the position Peña finds herself in, Harrison thinks the reasons are unrelated to talent.

Harrison Theorizes On ‘Annoying’ Peña’s Position

During a recent interview with InsideFighting, Harrison touched on her growing and evidently bitter feud with Peña, which peaked when the former UFC champ accused the two-time Olympic gold medalist of PED use.

“She’s annoying,” Harrison said. “I mean, she’s just low class. To me — I don’t know. I think it’s pathetic and it’s low class. She’s just looking for a built-in excuse for when I whoop her ass.”

Harrison then addressed to what extent she believes Peña’s often brash and vocal nature has paved the way for her success on MMA’s biggest stage, her tenure on which began with victory on The Ultimate Fighter way back in 2013.

“No,” Harrison responded when asked if Peña would be in her current position without utilizing trash talk. “I think Juliana’s pretty, I think she’s tough as nails, and I think she’s got a big mouth. Sometimes that’s all you need to get to a certain point.

“But eventually, you run into a bigger, badder dog than you who might have a bigger mouth than you,” Harrison warned. “So keep f*cking running it.”

Before the pair get the chance to settle their beef inside the Octagon, both will have to emerge victorious from UFC 307 on October 5. In doing so, Peña will look to answer Harrison’s claim by letting her fighting do the talking once the cage door closes behind her and Pennington.

Continue Reading Kayla Harrison On How Julianna Peña Reached The Top In UFC: ‘Pretty, Tough As Nails, & Got A Big Mouth’ at MMA News.

Julianna Peña Makes Last-Ditch Call For Amanda Nunes Trilogy

Julianna Peña is still making a push for a trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes. Peña was able to do the unthinkable in defeating Nunes at UFC 269 by scoring a submission win over the champ-champ to capture the bantamweight strap. Immediately the two were b…

Julianna Peña is still making a push for a trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes. Peña was able to do the unthinkable in defeating Nunes at UFC 269 by scoring a submission win over the champ-champ to capture the bantamweight strap. Immediately the two were booked for a season of coaching TUF, which led to a…

Continue Reading Julianna Peña Makes Last-Ditch Call For Amanda Nunes Trilogy at MMA News.

Julianna Peña Criticizes Amanda Nunes For ‘Attention Seeking’ With Retirement Announcement Amid Return Rumors

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña remains critical of Amanda Nunes’ decision to retire in mid-2023. Nunes laid down her two titles and gloves in the Octagon following a successful 135-pound defense against irena Aldana. Their showdown at UFC 289 in Canada came about on short-notice following the withdrawal of Peña through injury. Close […]

Continue Reading Julianna Peña Criticizes Amanda Nunes For ‘Attention Seeking’ With Retirement Announcement Amid Return Rumors at MMA News.

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña remains critical of Amanda Nunes’ decision to retire in mid-2023.

Nunes laid down her two titles and gloves in the Octagon following a successful 135-pound defense against irena Aldana. Their showdown at UFC 289 in Canada came about on short-notice following the withdrawal of Peña through injury.

Close by cageside on the night was “The Venezuelan Vixen,” who expected to set up a rearranged trilogy fight with the “Lioness.” Instead, the Brazilian announced a surprise retirement.

Peña’s boos and heckling during it made clear what she thought of the decision, and as talk of a comeback continues to float at the surface this year, the Spokane native remains frustrated by last year’s announcement…

Peña Slams ‘Drama Show’ From Nunes: ‘I Can’t Stand When People Retire & Then Come Back!’

During an interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Peña looked back on Nunes’ retirement, the continuation of which got thrown into doubt after she questioned Kayla Harrison’s decision not to call her out following a successful Octagon debut at UFC 300.

Having suggested her antics during Nunes’ retirement speech have now been vindicated, Peña has an even more critical view of her longtime rival’s decision in Vancouver, seeing it as nothing but an “attention seeking move.”

“I knew that she was prematurely retiring,” Peña said. “I can’t stand when people retire and then come back. It’s like, why retire in the first place? It’s just attention seeking. I think she should have just said, ‘I want a break and I’m gonna lay the belt down and let it be vacant. When I’m ready to fight for it again, I’ll fight for it again,’ instead of just building this drama show about how she’s ready to retire.

“I don’t think she’s ready to retire, I know that she wants to come back, and my objective is to get her to come back after I beat Raquel (Pennington),” Peña added.

Before looking to put her sights firmly back on the “Lioness,” Peña must make good on her promise to comfortably unseat Pennington in her very first defense. While unconfirmed, the pair are expected to collide at the Salt Lake City-held UFC 307 pay-per-view on October 5.

Should she achieve two-time champ status in 2024, perhaps Nunes will be tempted back to the cage. If not, a showdown with UFC newcomer Kayla Harrison would appear to be on the cards.

Continue Reading Julianna Peña Criticizes Amanda Nunes For ‘Attention Seeking’ With Retirement Announcement Amid Return Rumors at MMA News.

Julianna Peña Explains What Separates Her From Other Fighters: ‘I’m Going To Fight To The Death!’

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña believes she has something that most of her peers do not. Peña, who is currently sat at #1 in the 135-pound rankings, is expected to serve as the first challenger in longtime rival Raquel Pennington’s maiden title defense following “Rocky’s” capturing of the then-vacant belt at UFC 297 […]

Continue Reading Julianna Peña Explains What Separates Her From Other Fighters: ‘I’m Going To Fight To The Death!’ at MMA News.

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña believes she has something that most of her peers do not.

Peña, who is currently sat at #1 in the 135-pound rankings, is expected to serve as the first challenger in longtime rival Raquel Pennington’s maiden title defense following “Rocky’s” capturing of the then-vacant belt at UFC 297 this past January.

“The Venezuelan Vixen” is in pursuit of two-time champ status, having briefly held the gold after a monumental upset against Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 in December 2022. The ex-bantawmeight queen was originally set for a chance to regain the crown in a trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes last June, almost a year on from the Brazilian’s emphatic victory in their rematch.

But after injury kept her out of both that fight and the championship joust that followed Nunes’ retirement, Peña’s layoff is fast approaching the two-year mark. Nevertheless, she remains firmly in the title conversation and has no doubt about what she sees as an inevitable return to top spot.

Peña has continued to tout her perceived superiority over the rest of the bantamweight roster, and she recently warned Pennington about the kind of fighter she’ll be facing later this year…

Peña ‘Preparing’ To Give Her Life In Every Fight

During an interview with MMA Crazy at UFC X doing International Fight Week, Peña looked ahead to her long-awaited comeback and the matchup that is reportedly set to stage it this October.

“The Venezuelan Vixen” noted that nothing will change in terms of how she approaches her expected title clash with Pennington. No matter who shares the cage with, Peña claims to have a ‘fight to the death’ attitude.

“I go into fights the same way mentally. Preparing for literally giving my entire life, and if I have to die in there, I’m gonna die in there,” Peña said. “I think that it doesn’t matter who stands across from me, I’m always going to approach it the same. I’m going to fight to the death. That, to me, is kind of what separates me from other fighters I feel like. I’m literally going to give my entire life, it doesn’t matter who stands across from me. I am my biggest opponent.”

Peña will look to prove as much should it be required against Pennington down the line. While a date for their likely fight remains unconfirmed, current talk is placing the pair on a pay-per-view card rumored for Salt Lake City in October.

Whether in Utah or at an event elsewhere this year, the former champion will be hoping to announce her return in style and make a firm statement to the division’s current crop of top contenders.

Continue Reading Julianna Peña Explains What Separates Her From Other Fighters: ‘I’m Going To Fight To The Death!’ at MMA News.