Tag: Julianna Pena

Peña Adopts ‘Don’t Start Nothing, Won’t Be Nothing’ Mindset For TUF 30

Juliana Peña can’t be certain that there won’t be drama on TUF this season, but she knows that she won’t be the one starting it. A new season of The Ultimate Fighter is getting underway and the coaches have now been named. Bantamweight champion Juliana Peña will be opposing her former foe Amanda Nunes on…

Continue Reading Peña Adopts ‘Don’t Start Nothing, Won’t Be Nothing’ Mindset For TUF 30 at MMA News.

Juliana Peña can’t be certain that there won’t be drama on TUF this season, but she knows that she won’t be the one starting it.

A new season of The Ultimate Fighter is getting underway and the coaches have now been named. Bantamweight champion Juliana Peña will be opposing her former foe Amanda Nunes on the show.

These two are fresh off their bout against each other where Peña dethroned Nunes. A rematch will be set for the conclusion of the season. After spending several weeks in close proximity to each other, the tension is bound to get heavy.

The Ultimate Fighter show is known to have quite a bit of drama. The contestants are stuck in a house together for weeks with no contact with the outside world. Add on top of that weight cutting constantly and having to fight each other. All of these factors make for some loose cannons and drama starting at a moment’s notice.

However, it is not only the cast that has beefed with each other. Many times it is the coaches who are at each other throats.

In the case of TJ Dillashaw and Cody Grabrandt, they were literally at each other’s throats, as in grabbing each other by the throat. There has been some pushing and shoving between coaches since the very early days of TUF, but if any roughness starts this season, Peña claims it will not start it on her end.

“Listen, it’s not gonna come from me on my side,” Peña told the media (via The Mac Life.) “I mean, if she wants to throw some ‘punches,’ we can do that. Trust me, nobody puts baby in a corner. I will be fighting back with everything that I have. I’m not gonna be pulling any shenanigans, and I don’t anticipate that I’m gonna be being that person. But if they come at me, then we’re gonna have a different story, obviously.”

These two had their first faceoff since Peña won the belt from Nunes a few months ago. The face-off was very subdued and neither of them began trash-talking or shoving. All seems calm right now, but tempers could rise after the fights begin on the show and in the UFC APEX.

Do you think there will be drama between Juliana Peña and Amanda Nunes on TUF?

Continue Reading Peña Adopts ‘Don’t Start Nothing, Won’t Be Nothing’ Mindset For TUF 30 at MMA News.

Nunes: Peña Should Approach “Sensitive” Motherhood Subject Differently

After her victory against Amanda Nunes at UFC 269, Julianna Peña claimed her spot as “first mom champ”. Peña stopped the show in round 2 by rear-naked choke and accomplished the greatest feats of her MMA career: defeating Amanda Nunes. “The Venezuelan Vixen” became the new bantamweight queen and noted another title for herself in…

Continue Reading Nunes: Peña Should Approach “Sensitive” Motherhood Subject Differently at MMA News.

After her victory against Amanda Nunes at UFC 269, Julianna Peña claimed her spot as “first mom champ”.

Peña stopped the show in round 2 by rear-naked choke and accomplished the greatest feats of her MMA career: defeating Amanda Nunes. “The Venezuelan Vixen” became the new bantamweight queen and noted another title for herself in a post-fight interview.

January of 2018 marks the birth month of Peña’s first child. Peña gave birth by C-section and claims that makes her the first mom champion. This is in contrast to Nunes, who supported her wife Nina Nunes throughout the pregnancy and delivery.

Since Peña’s statements made in December, she has clarified the meaning of her words. The bantamweight champion is not discrediting “The Lioness” as a mom or as a mom champ, but she believes since she birthed her daughter, that is deserving of separate recognition.

However, the controversial comments left a sour taste in many mouths, especially Nunes, who posted on Instagram her counter opinion of motherhood.

And Nunes’s views have not changed. During a recent media scrum, she touched on the subject again.

“Honestly, how Julianna carried herself, I know that was coming from her. That don’t bother me that much. If I want, I can have a baby. I don’t have any problem. But I had to post something because when me and Nina went through the IVF process, I saw how many mothers were sitting down crying next to me because they’re not able to have a baby. They have to go through another way to be able to feel that love from a child and give it back,” said Nunes.

Amanda, Nina, and Ragean Ann Nunes / Julianna Peña and Issa Cruz; Photo Credit: Getty / Instagram

Agreeably, Peña needed to recover after her C-section birth to daughter Issa Cruz before getting back in the cage. However, the issues surrounding motherhood make it a sensitive subject for millions of people.

“So, when I heard that from her, I was like, ‘Now I have to (respond)…’ There are a lot of people that can not have a baby. So, that was my way to step in and say like, ‘Okay, you’re a mother, cool, you delivered your baby, but there are a lot of people who are not able to.’ You have to really say those things in a different way because there are a lot of people sensitive about that subject. As a champion as well, I have to be able to stand out and voice something,” Nunes continued.

At some point in 2022, both champions will meet in the Octagon again. Perhaps the motherhood controversy is adding more heat to their anticipated rematch.

What are your thoughts on Amanda Nunes’s approach to Julianna Peña’s comments?

Continue Reading Nunes: Peña Should Approach “Sensitive” Motherhood Subject Differently at MMA News.

Julianna Peña Closes Her Investigation Of The COVID-19 Pandemic

Julianna Peña has wrapped up her COVID-19 investigation. During her recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Julianna Peña opened up on a wide range of issues, and she even brushed up on her informal career as an investigative reporter. MMA News covered Peña’s initial dabbling into the journalism field when she was hot […]

Continue Reading Julianna Peña Closes Her Investigation Of The COVID-19 Pandemic at MMA News.

Julianna Peña has wrapped up her COVID-19 investigation.

During her recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Julianna Peña opened up on a wide range of issues, and she even brushed up on her informal career as an investigative reporter.

MMA News covered Peña’s initial dabbling into the journalism field when she was hot on the case of Amanda Nunes’ UFC 265 pull-out. She ultimately concluded that Nunes pulled out because she was ill-prepared for the original fight date of August 7, 2020. In fact, throughout the course of her investigation, Peña determined that Nunes was more than likely never stricken with the coronavirus at all, despite that being the reported reason for her withdrawal.

This would not be the end of Peña’s remarks connected to COVID-19. Peña would revert to her investigative ways on the JRE where she addressed many subjects and theories pertaining to the pandemic.

On Mask Efficacy

“For me, I don’t put on a mask unless somebody asks me. I’m like, “That’s over. Come on,” Peña said.

When asked what kind of mask she was referring to, she replied, “Gas masks. I don’t know. I’m sick of this. I’m seriously so sick of it.”

Peña would later point to a specific demonstration that she feels debunks the protection efficacy of masks.

“Have you seen that guy where he takes a pool from a vape pen on the outside and then just like clouds and plumes of smoke coming out? It’s like, what is it really protecting?”

On Her Experience With COVID-19

“Fine,” Peña said of her bout with the virus. “I mean, I had the chills. It started with the headache, and I had a massive headache for two days. I couldn’t understand what was going on…and I had the chills day three. It was freezing. I had sweatpants on, everything, and three blankets, and I was still shivering cold. I think day four or five, I lost taste and smell, and then I had a very mild cough, and then it was gone.”

Exposing The COVID-19 “Conspiracy”

“I’m a massive conspiracy theorist on this whole thing, and I have been since the very beginning. I’m like, ‘This is just a money grab. They’re trying to kill us, and this is ridiculous.”

After Rogan was taken aback by these remarks, Peña would swiftly present her supporting evidence.

“Well, remember [Dr. Peter] McCullough said that there’s a specific plant that’s growing somewhere and then one day they were all burned, gone. He said that there was like a field of this medicine somewhere else and then when they went to go back for it, it was all burned down.”

“Well, at this point, I don’t even think it’s a conspiracy anymore with all the other stuff that’s happening. It’s like, no, this is reality.”

Conclusions

After receiving backlash for her conspiracy theory, Peña took the time to clarify and apologize for her remarks during a recent media scrum, thus bringing a close to her COVID-19 investigation.

“My words were a little bit misconstrued,” Peña said. “I am tired. I am exhausted. We are going on this pandemic two years, going on three years now. I just want things to go back to normal. I realize that they probably won’t. I didn’t mean to come across as insensitive, especially for the fact that I had COVID. Everybody that I know had COVID. I lost my aunt in Venezuela. I lost many people that were near and dear to me. It absolutely is real.

“I’m just angry, and frustrated, and exhausted over the whole situation because I just am wanting things to go back to normal. And so if I offended anybody by my comments on COVID, please, I would like to apologize. That was not, by any means, what I meant to say. I just meant to say that I’m frustrated with the way that the world is right now.”

Peña’s stint as a rogue investigative reporter may be off to a rocky start yet, but her career as a professional cage fighter is going quite swimmingly. “The Venezuelan Vixen” sits as your reigning, defending UFC women’s bantamweight champion after pulling off arguably the biggest win of 2021 when she unseated Amanda Nunes from the throne at UFC 269.

A rematch between the two is set for later this year at the conclusion of TUF 30, a season where both women will serve as head coaches.

Continue Reading Julianna Peña Closes Her Investigation Of The COVID-19 Pandemic at MMA News.

Julianna Peña Wants Attention To Shift From Title Win To Nunes Rematch

UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña is hoping to turn the attention to her first title defense following her incredible crowning at UFC 269 last month. Despite being over a month removed from her gold-winning performance at the final pay-per-view of 2021, talk of Peña’s upset win in Las Vegas has barely died down. At […]

Continue Reading Julianna Peña Wants Attention To Shift From Title Win To Nunes Rematch at MMA News.

UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña is hoping to turn the attention to her first title defense following her incredible crowning at UFC 269 last month.

Despite being over a month removed from her gold-winning performance at the final pay-per-view of 2021, talk of Peña’s upset win in Las Vegas has barely died down. At UFC 269, she was tasked with ending the 12-fight win streak of then-two-division titleholder Amanda Nunes, and with becoming the first woman to defeat the Brazilian since 2014.

On paper? A difficult, if not impossible, task. In reality? A task Peña expected to complete.

With the majority of fans and pundits not giving her a chance, “The Venezuelan Vixen” entered the Octagon and delivered the performance of a lifetime. After escaping the opening round, Peña turned the heat up on a fatigued and visibly wobbly “Lioness.”

After rocking Nunes on the feet, Peña dragged her to the mat and submitted her, leaving the commentators, fans in attendance, and MMA community in shock. But one person without any surprise on her face was the newly-crowned 135-pound queen.

Peña: “I Just Wanna Talk About Moving Forward”

Given the feat Peña achieved, one that is widely considered the greatest upset in UFC history, it’s no surprise that questions about her reaction to the result and thoughts on becoming champion are still ever-present in her interviews.

However, Peña wants talk to turn to her next step; defending the gold for the first time in a rematch against Nunes.

In an interview with Caroline Pearce for BT Sport, the champion suggested she’s keen to move forward and focus on the first challenge to her reign, which will come after a stint coaching this year’s season of The Ultimate Fighter alongside the “Lioness.”

“I feel exactly the same. I expected to win that night. I expect to win in the future. It was what I expected from myself, so it wasn’t a surprise to me. I just wanna talk about moving forward, what’s gonna happen, and getting this rematch underneath my belt… I would love to stay active.”

After Peña’s memorable triumph at UFC 269, both her and UFC President Dana White wasted little time in confirming the planned next step. At the post-fight press conference, White said Nunes would certainly be offered an immediate chance at redemption, something the Brazilian welcomed with open arms.

With the inevitable back and forth that comes with a TUF season, it stands to reason their second clash will be a fiery affair.

Having been the consensus female fighter of the year in 2021, Peña will look to create a similarly successful 2022, which will need to start with a second victory over the woman most regard as the greatest female fighter of all time.

Do you think Julianna Peña can defeat Amanda Nunes for a second time when they meet for a rematch later this year?

Continue Reading Julianna Peña Wants Attention To Shift From Title Win To Nunes Rematch at MMA News.

Amanda Nunes: Peña Defeat Was A “Combination Of A Lot Of Things”

UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion Amanda Nunes has opened up on her upset defeat to Julianna Peña at UFC 269. In a year that saw Mexico’s Brandon Moreno and Brazil’s Glover Teixeira crowned as unlikely champions, it was a certain “Venezuelan Vixen” who took the cake in terms of shocking title-winning performances. At the final pay-per-view […]

Continue Reading Amanda Nunes: Peña Defeat Was A “Combination Of A Lot Of Things” at MMA News.

UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion Amanda Nunes has opened up on her upset defeat to Julianna Peña at UFC 269.

In a year that saw Mexico’s Brandon Moreno and Brazil’s Glover Teixeira crowned as unlikely champions, it was a certain “Venezuelan Vixen” who took the cake in terms of shocking title-winning performances.

At the final pay-per-view of 2021, then-two-division UFC champion Nunes looked to extend her win streak to 13 and maintain her dominance over the 135-pound weight class.

Hoping to hand the “Lioness” her first defeat since 2014 was Peña, an outspoken and confident challenger who represented a pre-fight approach we hadn’t seen versus Nunes for some time.

While many doubted as much, The Ultimate Fighter‘s first female winner proved that her confidence was well placed by dethroning Nunes in a memorable fashion inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Nunes: My Camp For Peña Was A “Mess”

Now, with her chance at redemption confirmed for later this year, the former bantamweight queen has looked back on her upset loss on December 11, and detailed the issues she thinks led to her disappointing performance.

In addition to the damage done to her training and routine by the pair’s canceled bout in August, which came after Nunes returned a positive COVID-19 test, the Brazilian has revealed she was suffering through injuries before and during her clash with “The Venezuelan Vixen.”

Those factors led to what Nunes described as a “mess” of a pre-fight camp, and ultimately a defeated performance at UFC 269.

“Honestly, I feel like it was a combination of a lot of things,” Nunes said during a recent media scrum. “You know, we were going through a lot of things before the fight, especially injuries and trying to train with injuries, all those things. I think I look back on my training camp preparing for Julianna; it was a mess. If you look back, the first fight (booking), I had Covid. I was doing good in that camp, and then I get Covid, and I have to stop; to really start over.

“Finally, I start over, I get a couple issues that I had to go through with it, but I (didn’t) wanna let that fight go again,” Nunes added. “So I thought it wouldn’t look good if I let that fight fall through one more time… I didn’t have a very good camp. That is the honest thing.”

With the pair set for a coaching stint on TUF before their intriguing rematch, Nunes will hope to make it to her chance for redemption at 100%. If she does so, Peña will certainly have a tough opening defense for her newly begun reign atop the bantamweight mountain.

Do you think Amanda Nunes will exact revenge on Julianna Peña in their rematch?

Continue Reading Amanda Nunes: Peña Defeat Was A “Combination Of A Lot Of Things” at MMA News.

UFC Champion Julianna Pena Apologises For COVID Comments

Julianna Pena Joe RoganUFC Bantamweight champion Julianna Pena has come out and apologized after her comments regarding COVID were ‘misconstrued’. The champion made a recent appearance on the JRE MMA Show in which she explained how she believed that COVID could be a conspiracy theory. “I’m a massive conspiracy theorist on this whole thing, and I have been […]

Julianna Pena Joe Rogan

UFC Bantamweight champion Julianna Pena has come out and apologized after her comments regarding COVID were ‘misconstrued’.

The champion made a recent appearance on the JRE MMA Show in which she explained how she believed that COVID could be a conspiracy theory.

“I’m a massive conspiracy theorist on this whole thing, and I have been since the very beginning. I’m like, ‘This is just a money grab. They’re trying to kill us, and this is ridiculous,’.

“I don’t even think it’s a conspiracy anymore with all the other stuff that’s happening, it’s just like, no, this is reality.”

Julianna Pena Clarifies Comments, Supports Joe Rogan

‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ had a chance to clarify her comments during her TUF 30 media appearance. Julianna Pena will coach the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter against Amanda Nunes.

“I took a little heat on that, as well. And what I mean to say is — once again, my words were a little bit misconstrued — I am tired, I am exhausted, we’re going on this pandemic two years… going on three years now. I just want things to go back to normal,” she told reporters.

“I didn’t mean to come across as insensitive, especially for the fact that I had COVID. Everybody that I know had COVID. I lost my aunt in Venezuela, I lost many people that were near and dear to me,” she explained.

“It absolutely is real. I’m just angry and frustrated and exhausted over the whole situation because I just am wanting things to go back to normal. And so, if I offended anybody by my comments on COVID, please, I would like to apologize. That was not, by any means, what I meant to say.”

However, following on from the backlash she received Julianna Pena now believes she no longer has a voice to speak out.

“Now, I feel like I can’t say how I really feel about anything because (everyone’s) just gonna find a way to make a headline. And so now I’m just… ‘Just keep it PG, Julianna.’”

The bantamweight champion also showed her support for Joe Rogan after the UFC Commentator also received serious backlash for comments, he had made himself.

“They’re trying to cancel him because of what his feelings are on the whole matter. So they’re trying to dig up everything that they can. They’re trying to find any negative thing that they can to try to cancel him because of his original message,” Julianna Pena said.

“I can’t speak for Joe, I don’t know how his thoughts are. Me, still learning in the process, I think that he was trying to divert away from that when I was on the (topic) and I just kept coming right back to it and hammering it.” (Transcribed by Bloodyelbow.com)

Do you think Julianna Pena’s comments were out of line?