Peña: A Conversation Has Taken Place About Coaching TUF With Nunes

Julianna Peña is looking to have some fun before she takes on Nunes again.

The new UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña is already making plans for her next move in the division. Peña made headlines when she defeated two-division champ Amanda Nu…

Julianna Peña, Amanda Nunes

Julianna Peña is looking to have some fun before she takes on Nunes again.

The new UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña is already making plans for her next move in the division. Peña made headlines when she defeated two-division champ Amanda Nunes at UFC 269. The win by Peña shocked many, as Nunes was on a 12-fight winning streak and defeated some of the best names in women’s MMA along her way. Now that Peña is holding the belt, she has an idea of what could be next.

Rumors have already been circling that the UFC is interested in a rematch between Peña and Nunes. Peña, who got her start in the UFC as a member of The Ultimate Fighter, would like to return to her roots and coach a season against Nunes.

“A dream come true for me would be to coach The Ultimate Fighter and then go right into the rematch,” she told BT Sports. “So, that’s a perfect-world scenario. I know we don’t live in a perfect world, but that’s what I would like. As long as I can get the rematch at whatever time, that’s what’s gonna make me happiest.”

At the moment, this is all a dream for Peña, but that doesn’t mean that it will never happen. Peña claims that this idea is already in the planning phase and talks have begun.

“Yeah, it has,” Peña said of TUF talks. “So, I mean, we’ll see.

The future is unclear for Nunes, who has a bit more freedom than Peña at this point. Nunes still holds the featherweight title and could very well defend that as her next fight.

Also, Nunes is in the process of changing gyms and fight camps. This fact could delay her return. If Nunes is indeed looking for an immediate rematch, the idea of coaching on TUF could be a good way to have some training time before getting back in the Octagon.

Continue Reading Peña: A Conversation Has Taken Place About Coaching TUF With Nunes at MMA News.

Julianna Peña Defends Joe Rogan Amidst Recent Outrage

UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña doesn’t understand all of the heat coming Joe Rogan’s way after recent COVID-19 claims.

Peña is on top of the world after her upset win over Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight title at UFC 269. She has ma…

Joe Rogan, Julianna Pena

UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña doesn’t understand all of the heat coming Joe Rogan’s way after recent COVID-19 claims.

Peña is on top of the world after her upset win over Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight title at UFC 269. She has made the rounds in the media since earning the belt and is enjoying the perks of fame and fortune.

But that hasn’t stopped Peña from expressing her opinions openly and in some cases, taking shots at her recently defeated opponent.

During a recent interview with the New York Post, Peña explained her desire to go on Rogan’s podcast and defended him against recent critics.

“I was like, ‘Joe, I wanna come on the podcast.’ He was like, ‘Let’s f–king go. How about January 26?’”

Peña went on to elaborate on why she feels perplexed by the amount of hate and critique heading Rogan’s direction.

“It’s a little crazy to me how mad people get about his opinions,” Peña said. “I have a philosophy where if people aren’t inciting violence, or in positions of government authority where they hold power over others, I don’t get hung up over anybody’s opinions. I get much more mad about actions than people’s opinions. I see him as someone trying to learn in real-time, and just because he says something now that people think is bad, it’s not necessarily a permanent harmful thought. I think he’s valuable for the proverbial conversation.”

UFC champ Julianna Peña talks wild alley brawl, Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan Interviews Julianna Peña After UFC 269 Championship Win


“I find him very interesting. I actually find a lot of what he says to be like-minded with the way that I feel. Not all things, obviously. I listen to the podcast, but it’s not like I’m waiting for him to say something people disagree with him.”

Some have wondered why Rogan continues to commentate given the success he’s found in other ventures, including landing a $100 million Spotify deal. Peña thinks Rogan is still in the booth because of his love for the sport.

“It is, and the fact that we even still get him is a blessing,” Peña said. “The fact that he still wants to do it, and that he’s still passionate about it, shows the kind of person he is, where his heart is and how loyal he is. I admire that. There’s not anything bad that I can say about Joe. I think he’s a genuine, what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of person, and that’s a rarity in this day and age – to see people who are “no bulls–t.”

Rogan has been accused of spreading COVID-19 misinformation and some have called for Spotify to part ways with the prominent podcaster. Some have criticized him for promoting the drug Ivermectin, which he used as a treatment for COVID-19 but is not officially recommended as a treatment by the FDA. UFC President Dana White and many others disagree and have shared their own testimonies and viewpoints on the subject in defense of Rogan.

Peña and Rogan have never shied away from expressing their thoughts, and their planned podcast episode will certainly be seen and heard by millions.

What are your thoughts on Julianna Peña and Joe Rogan?

Continue Reading Julianna Peña Defends Joe Rogan Amidst Recent Outrage at MMA News.

Julianna Peña Is Down For Meisha Tate’s Plan to Both hold UFC Titles

Julianna Peña likes Miesha Tate’s idea of them both holding UFC titles.

Julianna Peña and Miesha Tate are good friends so wouldn’t them both holding UFC titles at the same time be great? That is the idea that Tate has for the future. She has decid…

Miesha Tate Julianna Pena

Julianna Peña likes Miesha Tate’s idea of them both holding UFC titles.

Julianna Peña and Miesha Tate are good friends so wouldn’t them both holding UFC titles at the same time be great? That is the idea that Tate has for the future. She has decided to make the move down to flyweight in order to pursue a championship without attempting to dethrone her friend and former training partner. Upon hearing this idea, the bantamweight champ has to agree.

“I think that that’s great,” Peña told MMA Fighting. “If Miesha, (who) I do believe will find a ton of success at 125 and can fight for the belt at 125, I think there would be nothing better, especially for the UFC and for the sport, and particularly for the state of Washington to have two Washington champions at 125 and 135. That’s the plan.”

Tate decided to return to the UFC following a four-year retirement. As a former champion, Tate was looking to regain her belt in the bantamweight division. However, her path was stalled when she lost to Ketlen Vieira in November. At that time it was Peña who got the title shot. She defeated Amanda Nunes in December and will now be the one to beat at 135 pounds.

Because of their close relationship, Tate would rather take her shot at cutting weight and fighting at 125 pounds instead of waiting around. She has her first test at flyweight when she takes on Lauren Murphy in May at UFC Fight Night 209.

If she can get past Murphy, who is sitting in the #3 spot in the rankings, she might be next for champion Valentina Shevchenko. The only two fighters ahead of Murphy on the official rankings are Katlyn Chookagian who is no longer signed with the UFC and Jéssica Andrade, who is making a move back to strawweight.

Do you think this plan for Tate and Peña to both hold UFC titles at the same time is feasible?

Continue Reading Julianna Peña Is Down For Meisha Tate’s Plan to Both hold UFC Titles at MMA News.

Miesha Tate Plots FW/BW Takeover Along With Julianna Peña

Miesha Tate wants to hold a UFC belt right next to her friend Julianna Peña.

Miesha Tate is the former bantamweight champion. She is now looking to add another championship to her résumé but this time at flyweight. She recently decided to make the …

Miesha Tate Julianna Pena

Miesha Tate wants to hold a UFC belt right next to her friend Julianna Peña.

Miesha Tate is the former bantamweight champion. She is now looking to add another championship to her résumé but this time at flyweight. She recently decided to make the move down to 125 pounds mainly so she would not have to face her friend, newly crowned bantamweight champion Julianna Peña.

Tate and Peña go way back to before Peña was in the UFC. They trained together and then Tate had the chance to coach Peña on The Ultimate Fighter. Now that Peña is holding the strap at 135 pounds, Tate doesn’t want to be the one to take it away.

“Another reason, although I know I’m a little bit away from getting a potential title shot, but with Julie being crowned the champion at 135 also, I would just prefer if we could be champions at the same time together and Pacific Northwest Takeover,” she said on The MMA Hour.

Not wanting to dethrone her friend was not the only reason Tate gave for this move. After suffering her first loss since returning from retirement, Tate feels she will be able to perform better at flyweight. After five years away from the UFC, Tate made her comeback last year. Physically, she seemed to be in better shape than ever. She appeared leaner and perhaps this led to the decision to drop down the additional ten pounds.

Tate already has her flyweight debut all set. She will be taking on Lauren Murphy at the UFC Fight Night event on May 14. Murphy is a longtime contender at 125 pounds. She is coming off a title shot loss to champion Valentina Shevchenko, which was her first loss in three years. Murphy is currently ranked third in the division. If Tate can get past her, she might find herself pretty close to a title shot.

Do you think Miesha Tate and Julianna Peña will reign as UFC champions simultaneously?

Continue Reading Miesha Tate Plots FW/BW Takeover Along With Julianna Peña at MMA News.

Julianna Peña Reacts To Amanda Nunes Leaving ATT: “What A Zoo”

Julianna Peña has reacted to the news of Amanda Nunes leaving her long-time gym of American Top Team following UFC 269.

At UFC 269, Julianna Peña left many jaws dropped when she upset Amanda Nunes to become the new UFC women’s bantamweight champion…

Julianna Pena

Julianna Peña has reacted to the news of Amanda Nunes leaving her long-time gym of American Top Team following UFC 269.

At UFC 269, Julianna Peña left many jaws dropped when she upset Amanda Nunes to become the new UFC women’s bantamweight champion. Given the hubris Nunes’ backers had in their prediction that Peña would be another lamb for the GOAT’s slaughter, many were left seeking answers for what had transpired in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada after Peña broke Nunes in the second round.

It's something that is not a regular rear-naked choke," Julianna Pena sheds  light on her extraordinary rear-naked choke at UFC 269 » FirstSportz

For Nunes’ part, she hasn’t said much about her post-fight reflections. She has expressed interest in an immediate rematch against Peña and let it be known that she just needed a little time to put everything back in order before returning “better than ever.”

Monday, we learned that part of that process will be creating her own team down in Florida after exiting American Top Team. Nunes had been a part of ATT since 2014, with her loss to Peña being her only stumble in the ATT era of her career.

While it is merely speculative without hearing it from Nunes herself, it stands to reason that her loss to Peña was at least one major reason behind this career-altering decision.

Julianna Pena Reacts To Amanda Nunes Exiting American Top Team

https://www.photojoiner.net/image/9lg0Kns8

So how did Peña react to this news? As it turns out, it wasn’t much of a reaction at all when the topic was brought to her in a UFC 270 media day scrum.

“Yeah, what a zoo, huh?” Peña said as she took a sip of her cold beverage.

Peña was then asked if she had any additional thoughts on the matter, being that the post-ATT Nunes is expected to be her next opponent.

“Best of luck, you know?” Peña said with sustained nonchalance. “I just hope everything goes according to her plans and that we can get our fight booked. That’s all I care about.”

Peña is hopeful that the rematch between herself and Nunes takes place in the summer. When a reporter threw out the possibility of the fight taking place in Brazil in May, the new bantamweight champ hit him with the ol’ “No thanks.”

In any event, as long as the fight takes place sometime in the summer, it sounds as though Peña is carefree about where else the fight may take place or where Nunes will be training in the meantime.

Continue Reading Julianna Peña Reacts To Amanda Nunes Leaving ATT: “What A Zoo” at MMA News.

Julianna Peña: I exposed Amanda Nunes At UFC 269

Julianna PeñaThe UFC Women’s Bantamweight champion Julianna Peña has recently defended the validity of her victory over former champ Amanda Nunes at UFC 269. Despite many people being quick to give ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ props after her win over the consensus UFC female GOAT. Some people within the MMA community began to speculate whether the ‘Lioness’ […]

Julianna Peña

The UFC Women’s Bantamweight champion Julianna Peña has recently defended the validity of her victory over former champ Amanda Nunes at UFC 269.

Despite many people being quick to give ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ props after her win over the consensus UFC female GOAT. Some people within the MMA community began to speculate whether the ‘Lioness’ was fully prepared for the bout. 

Julianna Peña doesn’t think Amanda Nunes underestimated her

Many fans believe that Nunes ‘quit’ during their fight after underestimating the ability and the power of Pena.

The new Queen of the Bantamweight division was fast to make her stamp on the conversation and deny the narrative that the best performance of her career came about because of Nunes was getting too big for her boots. 

‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ believes the former champ was quite simply exposed at UFC 269.

“I think Amanda was prepared for the best version of Julianna that she was gonna see. She was ready,” Peña told the New York Post. “I said six months prior to the fight exactly what I was gonna do. I exposed her and I even gave her the message prior to the fight that that’s what I was gonna do. She didn’t underestimate me at all. She trained her ass off and was adamant, in her mind, to win the fight no matter what. She just got exposed, and that’s kind of what it was.” 

The discussion will inevitably cotinue and fans will continue to debate if on Peña dragged Nunes into a dog fight or if the former dual-weight champ simply overlooked her latest opponent.

Nonetheless, there is no debate that Peña, did not just roll over and let the occasion and her high-profile opponent get the best of her. She stood up to the challenge and is now reaping the rewards. 

Who do you think will be the Bantamweight Queen at the end of 2022?