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...
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.
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