Tag: Julianna Pena

Julianna Peña confirms UFC championship bout in return from injury: ‘My next fight will be for a title’

Julianna Peña confirms she will fight for UFC bantamweight title in return from injuryFormer undisputed bantamweight champion, Julianna Peña has confirmed how when she makes her return from injury which ruled her…

Julianna Peña confirms she will fight for UFC bantamweight title in return from injury

Former undisputed bantamweight champion, Julianna Peña has confirmed how when she makes her return from injury which ruled her from a June title trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes – she will meet the victor of January’s incoming vacant championship fight after UFC 297.

Peña, the current number one ranked bantamweight contender, has been sidelined since she suffered a hugely one-sided unanimous decision loss to former two-weight titleholder, the recently retired, Nunes back in July of last year, suffering a rematch loss to the Brazilian. 

Scheduled to return at UFC 289 back in June of this year in Canada, Washington native, Peña was forced out of a trilogy rubber match with Nunes after suffering fractured ribs during a training session ahead of the bout, before being replaced by Mexican challenger, Irene Aldana. 

And overnight, reports revealed how the promotion is set to hold a vacant bantamweight title fight between former title chaser, Raquel Pennington, and surging contender, Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 297 next January in Toronto, Canada – in the first flagship event of the year.

Julianna Peña confirms title fight in her return to the UFC next year

Reacting to news of Pennington booking a title fight with Bueno Silva, The Ultimate Fighter victor, Peña claimed she would be fighting for the bantamweight championship against the victor of the UFC 297 in her return to the Octagon.

“I’m injured,” Julianna Peña told Ariel Helwani overnight. “I will fight the winner. My next fight will be for a title. Guaranteed. I feel bad. Not for myself, but for the fans that are being force fed this horrible fight [between Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva]. What a disaster.” 

Shocking the mixed martial arts community back in December 2021, Peña turned in a spectacular upset win over the above-mentioned, Nunes, defeating the Bahia native with a stunning second round rear-naked choke submission win to mint herself as the undisputed bantamweight champion. 

Do you expect to see Julianna Peña fight for the bantamweight title in her UFC return?

Germaine de Randamie eyes vacant title fight rematch with Julianna Peña in UFC return: ‘Let’s make it happen’

Germaine de Randamie eyes title rematch with Julianna Peña in UFC return let's make it happenEyeing a return to the Octagon before the close of the year, inaugural featherweight champion, Germaine de Randamie has announced intentions to make a bantamweight comeback – ideally in a vacant championship rematch against either former-foes, Julianna Peña, or Raquel Pennington.  de Randamie, the inaugural featherweight champion under the banner of the promotion, has been […]

Germaine de Randamie eyes title rematch with Julianna Peña in UFC return let's make it happen

Eyeing a return to the Octagon before the close of the year, inaugural featherweight champion, Germaine de Randamie has announced intentions to make a bantamweight comeback – ideally in a vacant championship rematch against either former-foes, Julianna Peña, or Raquel Pennington. 

de Randamie, the inaugural featherweight champion under the banner of the promotion, has been sidelined since submitting former undisputed bantamweight titleholder, Peña back in October 2020, rallying to beat The Ultimate Fighter winner with a stunning third round guillotine choke submission win.

Since then, de Randamie and her partner welcomed their first born child, with a planned clash with most recent title challenger, Irene Aldana back in November 2021 cancelled after the Dutch kickboxer withdrawing due to an undisclosed injury. 

However, earlier this year, the Utrecht native confirmed her intentions to make a summer comeback, and whilst failing to meet the timeline for a return – de Randamie has instead confirmed her plans to fight in either November or December of this year, returning to a training camp. 

Germaine de Randamie chases vacant title fight in return to the UFC

And in terms of potential comeback opponents, de Randamie, 39, weighed up potential fights with either Peña or Pennington, in rematches to land the vacant bantamweight title in her return.

“In an ideal world, Julianna Peña or Raquel Pennington,” Germaine de Randamie told MMA Fighting during a recent interview. “But like I said, I’m not in the position to ask for anybody and I’m never the person to do that. But if I would have to say somebody – and I say that with the utmost respect because I’m a true, true, true fan of her – but I would say a fight with Pannie Kianzad.” 

“If the UFC really wants a banger, because she and I are both not going to shoot for a takedown,” Germaine de Randamie explained. “We’re going to bang it out in the middle of the cage. That would be a fun fight. Like I said, whatever the UFC wants to give me and whatever gives me a shot at the title. Let’s make it happen. That’s what I’m shooting for. I’m going to give it my all in my comeback fight. I know I have to deliver. That’s my focus. I’ve got to deliver and make sure everybody knows I’m still there and I’m coming for [the title].” 

Can Germaine de Randamie make a successful comeback to the UFC this year?

The 4 Best Opponents for Ronda Rousey Amid UFC 300 Fight Rumors

UFC 300 is getting closer and closer. The landmark event doesn’t yet have an official date, but it should occur sometime in the Spring of 2024 and speculation…

UFC 300 is getting closer and closer. The landmark event doesn’t yet have an official date, but it should occur sometime in the Spring of 2024 and speculation…

Maycee Barber welcomes UFC title fight with Julianna Peña: ‘I totally would go take that belt from her’

Maycee Barber welcomes Julianna Peña title fight UFC I totally would take that belt from herOnce targeting a record-setting title victory as the youngster gold holder in the history of the UFC, surging flyweight contender, Maycee Barber has welcomed the possibility of a title fight at the bantamweight champion, taking on former titleholder, Julianna Peña.  Barber, who has won her last five consecutive outings, most recently earned the number eight […]

Maycee Barber welcomes Julianna Peña title fight UFC I totally would take that belt from her

Once targeting a record-setting title victory as the youngster gold holder in the history of the UFC, surging flyweight contender, Maycee Barber has welcomed the possibility of a title fight at the bantamweight champion, taking on former titleholder, Julianna Peña. 

Barber, who has won her last five consecutive outings, most recently earned the number eight rank in the official flyweight pile back in June at UFC Fight Night Jacksonville, turning in an impressive second round elbows and ground strikes TKO win over Brazilian grappler, Amanda Ribas. 

13-2 as a professional, the highly-touted, Barber suffered her first professional loss against the veteran, Roxanne Modafferi back in 2020, batlling to a three round decision loss after suffering a brutal knee injury.

In her return to the Octagon in February of the following year, Barber suffered her second straight loss in the form of a unanimous decision against eventual division champion and current gold holder, Alexa Grasso at the UFC Apex facility. 

Engaging in a recent rivalry with former champion, Peña following the Washington native’s outspoken tirade against former two-weight champion, Amanda Nunes, Barber was urged to “drink a protein shake and come up to 135 (pounds)” by The Ultimate Fighter winner, welcoming a future fight.

Maycee Barber welcomes bantamweight move and Julianna Peña fight

And as far as Barber’s concerned, the streaking 25-year-old has welcomed the potential future bantamweight title fight with Peña – particularly in the absence of a champion in the weight class currently.

“If I was offered that fight at 135 (pound), to fight Julianna (Peña), I’d do it tomorrow,” Maycee Barber told assembled media ahead of UFC 291. “I’m trying for that fight, but, we’ll see what happens.”

“You know, I’m actually supposed to be talking to Hunter (Campbell) and Mick (Maynard) soon so,” Maycee Barber explained. “I should have an answer for that soon. I totally would go and take that belt from Julianna.” 

Over the course of her five-fight winning run, Colorado native, Barber has landed victories over the above-mentioned, Ribas, as well as Andrea Lee, former title challenger, Jessica Eye, as well as Montana De La Rosa, and Miranda Maverick. 

Would you like to see Maycee Barber fight for bantamweight gold?

Julianna Pena’s beef with Raquel Pennington goes back to their time on TUF: ‘Time for her to get another a** whooping’

Julianna PenaJulianna Pena and Raquel Pennington are plenty familiar with one another despite never actually stepping foot inside the Octagon together. More than a decade ago, Julianna Pena and Raquel Pennington introduced themselves to the world as part of the 18th season of The Ultimate Fighter. Despite both fighters being drafted to the same team, the […]

Julianna Pena

Julianna Pena and Raquel Pennington are plenty familiar with one another despite never actually stepping foot inside the Octagon together.

More than a decade ago, Julianna Pena and Raquel Pennington introduced themselves to the world as part of the 18th season of The Ultimate Fighter. Despite both fighters being drafted to the same team, the two never appeared to get along with one another. Now, with the two of them seemingly on a collision course in the bantamweight division, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ has one goal in mind; settling the score with her turncoat TUF teammate.

“I’ve never forgot about how horribly she talked about me in the house, and then accused me of being a brat, because I wouldn’t go hang out with them at nighttime while they were sitting around a campfire talking crap about me,” Peña said on The MMA Hour. “Like, you’re not my friend. And I found that out very quickly when we were living together for seven weeks.”

Julianna Pena Details the Tension Between Herself and Raquel Pennington in the TUF House

Julianna Pena went on to win TUF 18 while Raquel Pennington would come up short in the semi-final round, dropping a unanimous decision to Jessica Rakoczy. During their time together as part of Miesha Tate’s team, Pena accused ‘Rocky’ of drinking and partying all hours of the night even before she was eliminated from the competition.

“She’s sleeping up above me,” Peña said. “Before she was eliminated from the competition, she was staying up all night until, like, three in the morning, drinking and having a good time with everybody else that was eliminated from the competition. So she wouldn’t come to bed till, like, the wee hours. And then when Monday would roll around, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, every single day, we’re training two times a day, she wouldn’t come to practice. She was sleeping in, because she had stayed up the night before.

“So in the morning time, because we’re the first team to go into the gym that day — we had first practices — I’m waking up to get my medicine, I’m waking up to get my bags together, I’m waking up to start my day, but she’s mad about me doing that. So then she started to say that I’m like being all loud on purpose.

“We’re living on top of each other. We literally got the smallest room with three chicks in one room. We’re living on top of each other, and it’s not my fault that you stayed up all night and that you’re dragging ass in the morning and not even coming to practice. And again, this was before she was eliminated from the competition” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Initially, Julianna Pena chalked up their tension to the limited living quarters and their different approaches to the competition. However, during a segment where the women interviewed one another, Pena was prompted to ask ‘Rocky’ who she would most like to fight inside the house. Pennington immediately called out Pena.

“And I said, why me? Raquel, I put you in my high heels,” Peña said. “I did your makeup so beautiful. I gave you my dresses and taught you how to walk like a lady, and now you’re going to kick me out of the house? For what? This is such BS. And she said it was because I was too loud, and I said, ‘I’m just going to practice, dude, like I don’t even know what you’re talking about.’

“So anyways, she wasn’t able to get past Jessica Rakoczy … and that was somebody that I dominated and that I finished. And so, like I said, we’ve had this brewing for a long time now, and it’s a fight that’s been needing to happen for a very long time, since 2013. I haven’t forgot about it.”

Julianna Pena Would Prefer to Fight ‘Rocky’ Over Mayra Bueno Silva for the Bantamweight Title

With Mayra Bueno Silva’s impressive submission victory over ex-champion Holly Holm earlier this month, many have suggested that she, and not Raquel Pennington, is the woman that should be fighting Julianna Pena for the vacant women’s bantamweight world title. However, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ doesn’t see it that way, suggesting that a fight with ‘Rocky’ would not only be bigger but because there are some personal matters that still need attending with her former TUF castmate.

“I think that, yeah, it is [a bigger fight], because she is on a five-fight winning streak and she’s been crying about getting a title shot since the last time that she quit on the stool,” Peña said. “So it’s about time for her to get another a** whooping, I would assume.”

Who would you like to see Julianna Pena square off with for the vacant 135-pound crown?