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Tag: Julianna Peña

  • Nate Diaz Praises Julianna Peña In Response To UFC 269 Homage

    They say that real recognize real, and if that is the case, then Nate Diaz certainly recognized the real upset that Julianna Peña got at UFC 269.

    In what is being considered arguably the biggest upset in MMA history, Peña was able to submit who many consider the greatest female fighter of all time by tapping Amanda Nunes out in the second round of their bantamweight title contest.

    Following this victory, while speaking to Joe Rogan in her post-fight interview inside the Octagon, the newly crowned champion said that she was not surprised, quoting the famous interview that the younger Diaz brother gave when he submitted Conor McGregor on short notice.

    It seems That Nate Diaz caught wind of this homage and decided to pay his respects back. Posting to Twitter, Stockton’s own praised Peña for being able to score this massive upset victory, while displaying both of their interviews side by side, noting the similarities between the two situations.

    “When you know you know…Congratulations to @VenezuelanVixen #beast ?” Diaz wrote.

    Nate Diaz is correct in noting that Julianna Peña was a beast in her title-winning fight against the highly revered Amanda Nunes. That being said, the biggest difference between her win and his is that while he took his fight on super short notice against a McGregor who was fresh off of a title victory at featherweight, she dethroned a long-standing champion who has been dominating two weight divisions for years.

    Nevertheless, it is great to see Diaz showing Peña some respect in return for the tip of the cap that she gave in his direction. The only thing that is certain in the sport of mixed martial arts is that absolutely nothing is certain, and it is hard to deny that they are both proof of that.

  • Julianna Peña’s Victory Lap Includes Circling Back To Three Opponents

    Newly crowned UFC bantamweight champion Julianna Peña is ready and willing to fight whomever the UFC puts in front of her, but there are three names she specifically has in mind.

    At UFC 269, Julianna Peña pulled off the upset of the year and one of the biggest upsets in UFC history when she submitted Amanda Nunes in the co-main event. UFC President Dana White has already expressed interest in booking a rematch between the two if Nunes wants it. But what about the new champ?

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” did not hesitate to commit to the idea.

    “We can do it next week, I’m free next month, two months from now. Whenever they want to do it, I’m ready,” Peña said during the UFC 269 post-fight press conference. “In all fairness, I’ve been in camp for a year. I really think my daughter deserves some well-deserved mommy time, a little vacation. After that, definitely. If she wants to do a rematch, we can do a rematch.”

    Julianna Peña Eyes Two Other Rematches

    Julianna Pena eyes quick turnaround after submission loss to Germaine de Randamie at UFC Fight Island 4 - MMAmania.com

    The outside world did not have much faith in Julianna Peña heading into UFC 269, but there was one thing most everyone could agree on about her: she was not short on confidence.

    Therefore, it should come as no surprise that she sees herself remaining in full control of whom she fights next outside of an Amanda Nunes rematch. And if she has it her way, not only will she give a rematch, but she will also receive two rematches to avenge her only losses in the UFC.

    “I think that there’s some rematches that I want to do. I would like to go down and challenge Valentina Shevchenko. I would love to get that rematch against Germaine de Randamie. I would love a rematch, if that’s what she wants, against Amanda Nunes. Those are the rematches that I have in my peripheral.”

    Peña’s loss to current women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko took place in 2017 via armbar in what was then a #1-contender bout. And last year, Peña dropped a fight to former featherweight champ Germaine de Randamie via third-round guillotine.

    Below, you check out the start of Julianna Peña’s victory lap around her naysayers in this Octagon interview following her UFC 269 upset of Amanda Nunes.

    How do you think Julianna Peña would fare if this rematch tour comes together?

  • Dana White Clarifies Rumored Michael Chiesa Incident At UFC 269

    UFC President Dana White explained what went down with welterweight fighter Michael Chiesa following Julianna Peña’s win at UFC 269.

    Word quickly spread on social media that Chiesa was involved in a scuffle with security personnel at T-Mobile Arena while attempting to get into the Octagon to celebrate his former teammate’s win over Amanda Nunes. Peña pulled off arguably the greatest upset in UFC history with her submission of the legendary Nunes.

    It wasn’t surprising that Chiesa wanted to be involved in the post-fight celebration with Peña, but it was surprising how he went about it. During his UFC 269 post-fight press conference, White clarified what led to Chiesa being escorted out of the arena.

    “How do I say this without embarrassing this guy?” White said. “[Chiesa] had a little too much to drink this evening. When she won, he freaked out and tried to jump into the Octagon and fell down on his face, cut his eye, and busted his eye open, then was arguing with the police that he needed to get in the Octagon and be with her ’cause that’s his teammate. They dragged him out, got him outside, and calmed him down in the back, and I went back and talked to him for a minute, and we’re all good.” 

    Michael Chiesa 'very happy' for Poirier, thinks trilogy with McGregor makes most sense - Bloody Elbow

    Chiesa has become one of the top UFC analysts on Fight Night broadcasts and remains an active UFC welterweight. While he’s dropped his last two fights against Sean Brady and Vicente Luque, he remains focused on a bounceback in 2022.

    Chiesa and Peña are two of the most notable MMA talents to fight out of Spokane, WA, as both fought at Sikjitsu Gym together. They’ve been close friends since Peña won The Ultimate Fighter in 2013.

    For now, it appears that White and the UFC brass won’t seek to punish Chiesa further for his actions at UFC 269.

    What are your thoughts on the Michael Chiesa incident at UFC 269?

  • Amanda Nunes Reacts To Stunning UFC 269 Loss To Julianna Peña

    UFC superstar Amanda Nunes has spoken out on social media for the first time since her bantamweight title loss to Julianna Peña.

    Nunes got off to a strong start against Peña at UFC 269, dropping her with a big right hand just minutes into the fight. However, Peña was able to survive the early onslaught and come out strong in the second round.

    After a wild flurry of strikes by both women on the feet, Peña earned a hard takedown and quickly got Nunes’ back with relative ease. Peña secured the stunning victory with a rear-naked choke to pull off the monumental upset.

    Just minutes after the loss, Nunes spoke with Joe Rogan about what went wrong against Peña.

    “Nothing was surprising at all,” Nunes said in her Octagon interview. “I knew she was going to come forward. Just today, I checked out. I need to work on a couple of things and fix it, get back in the gym, and come back soon. Congratulations to Julianna, she’s a warrior.”

    Amanda Nunes Posted A Family Picture Following UFC 269

    The day after the loss, Nunes took to Instagram to thank her fans and share a picture with her family and coach.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXY9r6jLBU3/

    “Thank you so very much everyone!” Nunes said. “Life goes on.”

    Nunes’ loss to Peña was undoubtedly one of the most stunning upsets in combat sports history. Nunes has dominated the competition for years and earned both the bantamweight and featherweight titles, which has defended simultaneously.

    Before losing to Peña, Nunes hadn’t lost a fight since her defeat to Cat Zingano at UFC 178. This would be the turning point in her career as she would go on a 12-fight winning streak against some of the best female fighters in the UFC.

    An immediate rematch is certainly warranted for Nunes, assuming that she wants to run it back right away with Pena. For now, she’s looking ahead to a bounceback in 2022.

    What should be next for Amanda Nunes?

  • Dana White Says Amanda Nunes Will Get Peña Rematch If She Wants It

    Amanda Nunes may have lost for the first time in seven years, but she still is in the driver’s seat of what happens next at the top of the bantamweight division.

    At UFC 269, Julianna Peña stunned a public that bet Amanda Nunes up to be a -1000 favorite heading into the co-main event. Not only did Peña pull off the upset, but she was able to get the finish within two rounds.

    UFC 269: Amanda Nunes stunningly CHOKED OUT by Julianna Pena in one of biggest upset wins in MMA history - thejjReport
    Julianna Pena, Amanda Nunes

    The finish was convincing. And although “doubt” would be an understatement regarding what Peña was up against coming into the fight, she managed to leave none about who deserved to have their hand raised at UFC 269. Indeed, odds aside, Julianna Peña proved to be the better woman on the night of December 11, and her bulletproof confidence was rewarded with bantamweight gold.

    Peña vs. Nunes 2 Already In The Works?

    However, be all that as it may, Julianna Peña may just have to turn around and do what no one has ever done before: defeat Amanda Nunes twice. All that needs to happen to place this task in front of her is “The Lioness” saying the word.

    “It’s a big rematch if [Nunes] wants it,” White said at the UFC 269 post-fight press conference.

    During the UFC 269 pre-fight press conference, Peña was actually asked about this scenario of an immediate rematch when it was all completely hypothetical. Here is what she had to say:

    “Yes, an immediate rematch, and when I win that fight, I will be 11-2 in the division, which is a better bantamweight record in the history of the bantamweight division.”

    If this remains Peña’s stance, then all that’s left is the green light from Amanda Nunes. MMA News will keep you posted if and when that immediate rematch becomes a work in progress.

    Do you think there should be an immediate rematch between Amanda Nunes and Julianna Peña?

  • 7 Takeaways From UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier

    UFC 269 featured two title fights that crowned a new queen of the women’s bantamweight division and a current champion proved himself as worthy of holding the title he won earlier this year.

    There was a lot to take away from UFC 269, here are some things that stood out.

    O’Malley vs. Garbrandt?

    During the pre-fight press conference, Sean O’Malley and Cody Garbrandt went after each other, even though they both had their own fights with other people at UFC 269 to worry about. Still, O’Malley seemed to think it would be a good idea for them to square up at the press conference for a future event. Is this something you want to see?

    Lost One 

    Alex Perez
    Image Credit: Jeff Sherwood of Sherdog.com

    It happens enough these days, bookmakers should start laying odds on what fight will get pulled from a card, and for what reason. After the weigh-ins, the UFC announced that the flyweight bout between Matt Schnell and Alex Perez was canceled due to medical issues with Schnell.

    The Savage Gets Back in The Win Column

    Gillian Robertson was on a two-fight losing streak going into UFC 269. If that wasn’t enough fuel to pick up a win, her opponent Priscila Cachoeira missed weight and they fought at a catchweight. Robertson scored the first submission and finish of the night to get back in the win column and did it with Cachoeira fighting dirty. Losers never win, and Robertson proved that here. Check out Robertson’s submission finish and doing it while Cahcoeira was poking her in the eye.

    Kai-Kara France

    UFC 269 results: Kai Kara-France spoils Cody Garbrandt's flyweight debut with massive TKO win - CBSSports.com
    Kai Kara-France. Image Credit: Jeff Bottari

    France stopped Garbrandt in his tracks for Garbrandt’s flyweight debut, leaving questions for Garbrandt’s future but opening doors for France. With his first-round finish of the former bantamweight champion, France made it known he has his eyes on Brandon Moreno and Deivison Figueredo. Either fight would make a great future match-up for him. 

    Dominick Cruz

    UFC 269 tweets: Pros react to Dominick Cruz comeback win, Daniel Cormier commentary controversy - MMA Fighting
    Dominick Cruz, Image Credit: MMA Fighting

    Cruz made news for his criticism of Daniel Cormier’s broadcast style on fight week and that may have taken away from the fact that regardless of how anyone handles a mic, Cruz can still manage the cage better. It’s obvious he does just as much homework for fights as he does for his broadcast duties. Cruz fought and won against a very tough Pedro Munhoz to pick up a decisive victory. If there’s a fight to make, maybe he and Jose Aldo could headline a card in 2022.

    And New!

    UFC 269 results, highlights: Julianna Pena scores shocking upset of Amanda Nunes to claim title - CBSSports.com
    Julianna Pena, Image Credit: Chris Unger

    A huge underdog, Julianna Peña came in with nothing but heart and a great jab that would hand Nunes the loss that would cost her the title, and crown The Venezuelan Vixen the new bantamweight champion. Peña was a +650 underdog and when the going got tough, Peña’s resolve would be the fuel that won her the title. 

    And Still!

    UFC 269 results: Charles Oliveira taps Dustin Poirier to retain title
    Charles Oliveira. Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports

    Diamonds are tough but “Do Bronx” is tougher as Charles Oliveira proved that he can stand with the tougher, more damaging fighter the likes of Dustin Poirier. Oliveira’s chin was definitely tested in this fight, especially in round one but if there were a physical demonstration of “being like water,” Oliveira definitely did it to Poirier when he scored the submission victory. 

    There’s obviously more to take away from this event than what is listed here especially with it being the last one of 2021. New challengers for various titles, up-and-coming fighters looking to get in the top 15, and potential rematches to make. The UFC certainly closed their pay-per-view schedule well.

    What did you take away from the event? Better yet, what would you like to see in 2022?

  • Fighters React To Julianna Pena Tapping Amanda Nunes To Win Women’s Bantamweight Title At UFC 269

    Julianna Pena shocked the world when she defeated Amanda Nunes to win the UFC women’s bantamweight title.

    The two fighters met in a bout on Saturday night (December 11, 2021) at the UFC 269 pay-per-view event from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    In the first round, Nunes dropped her twice – once with a leg kick then a jab. Pena tried to go for a takedown, but that didn’t work. Nunes got a takedown and even had her back at one point. Pena had her in a kimura for a bit, but the round ended. In the second round, Pena came out swinging and they had an unbelievable exchange for a few minutes. Nunes got tired. Pena clinched with her up against the fence before taking her down and locking in the rear-naked choke for the win. 

    Peep the highlights of the fight courtesy of the UFC’s official Twitter account:

    In her previous fight, Nunes retained the featherweight strap over Megan Anderson by first-round submission at UFC 259. Before that, she retained the bantamweight strap over Felicia Spencer at the UFC 250 pay-per-view event got a decision victory over Germaine de Randamie at UFC 245 by decision and another impressive victory at the expense of former champ Holly Holm at the UFC 239 pay-per-view event. Nunes knocked out Cris Cyborg in the first round in the co-headliner of UFC 232 to win the UFC women’s featherweight title on December 29, 2018, at The Forum in Inglewood, California. With that win, Nunes became a two-division champion as she’s the champ of the women’s bantamweight and featherweight divisions.

    Pena entered this fight with a 10-4 pro-MMA record and had gone 2-2 in her last four fights to get here. She lost to Valentina Shevchenko by submission in January 2017 before getting a decision win over Nicco Montaño, but dropped a loss to Germaine de Randamie by decision in October 2020. She rebounded with a submission win over Sara McMann. 

    Let’s see how the fighters reacted to the outcome of this fight: 

    UFC 269 Results: Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier, Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC 269. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • Julianna Peña: “There’s No Such Thing As An Underdog”

    As she prepares to face dominant two-division UFC champion Amanda Nunes, bantamweight contender Julianna Peña has suggested there’s “no such thing as an underdog.”

    The oddsmakers and most in the MMA community would certainly have something to say about that, with not many believing Peña has much of a chance at dethroning the “Lioness” this weekend at UFC 269.

    Peña, who currently sits at #3 in the 135-pound rankings, has gone 2-2 in her last four appearances. But while defeats to current flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko and inaugural featherweight titleholder Germaine de Randamie have prevented a winning streak from developing, “The Venezuelan Vixen” certainly gave a good effort in both contests. Until making some mistakes, Peña believes she was well on her way to two victories, a theory that’s hard to argue against.

    She’ll look to avoid committing similar errors inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night. If she does make them, a killer like Nunes, who is unbeaten since 2014 and has defended the bantamweight title five times, will likely pounce.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CTN9oocjfoq/

    Peña: “No One Is Ever Giving Me A Fair Shake”

    In a scenario that Nunes has admitted is a fresh experience for her, Peña has attacked her first title shot with aggression and trash talk. To go along with that, “The Venezuelan Vixen” has boasted an air of confidence that not many would associate with a rival of the Brazilian champion.

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Peña gave some insight into her attitude and positive mindset, citing faith and self-belief as the tools behind her immense confidence.

    “I have an unwavering amount of faith in God and making sure that I’m doing everything that I need to do in order to get my hand raised. So I did all the work and then I have this unwavering faith and belief in myself. I almost feel like it’s a David vs. Goliath type situation, where all these chips are stacked against me, and I just know that at the end of the day, I have faith in God and I have faith in my abilities and I have faith in my skillset. I think that that strong mentality has carried me through in all of my fights.”

    Her confidence, however, hasn’t been enough to convince too many people of her ability to dethrone Nunes. That’s in spite of her consistent claims that fans and pundits are “sleeping on her.”

    Despite still sitting as a heavy underdog heading into the final pay-per-view of the year, Peña denied that status, saying underdogs don’t exist.

    “If you just look at any of the media or anything that the commentators say, no one is ever giving me a fair shake. They’re always considering me an underdog and they’re always counting me out. I was counted out on The Ultimate Fighter, no one thought I was gonna win. I ended up winning a show that was one of the toughest competitions in sports.

    “When Amanda fights me, she’s not gonna be thinking, ‘Oh, she’s just some underdog.’ I don’t think that’s gonna be playing through her mind. So it doesn’t matter, there’s no such thing as an underdog. We’re going to go get into a fistfight in a steel cage, and there’s not much more I can say to it other than keep it simple.”

    If Peña manages to have her hand raised against the consensus female MMA GOAT, it would represent one of the biggest upsets in UFC history, and everyone loves an underdog (or an existing Peña-approved equivalent).

    How do you think Julianna Peña will fare against reigning two-division champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 269?

  • Flashback To Peña Letting Rousey Know Who Was BW’s Biggest “Bully”

    UFC 269 headliner Julianna Peña has never been one to bite her tongue.

    Tonight, Julianna Peña will look to back up her hefty pre-fight talk when she takes on Amanda Nunes in the UFC 269 main event. One might even say that Peña has been attempting to bully Nunes ahead of their bout. Of course, Nunes has never been one to back down, and we saw that in the UFC 269 pre-fight press conference.

    Nevertheless, Peña has always been assertive and strong-willed, even when women’s MMA was synonymous with alpha female “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey.

    Ronda Rousey
    Image Credit: Getty Images

    In 2015, Peña came to Arianny Celeste’s defense against the “bully” Ronda Rousey, and she didn’t stop there. She returned with some more choice words for the then UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion.

    During an appearance on Submission Radio in March of 2015, Peña shared her thoughts on a potential match against the former 135-pound champ.

    “Where I would hold the advantage is that I would not be mentally broken before the fight ever started, which I feel is sometimes to me – in my opinion – what seems to be the case with these other women that are facing her,” said Pena.

    Julianna Pena, Ronda Rousey
    Julianna Pena, Ronda Rousey

    “They already look dead upon arrival when they’re in the cage with her and I refuse to be shaken,” Pena continued. “I’ve been bullied my whole life and I just feel like she’s been a bully, and I feel like in the sense that I’m the bully and I’m a bigger bully than she can imagine, and I think that I would also have the advantage in the sense that I’m not afraid wherever the fight goes.”

    In the same aggressive fashion that Peña called for a fight against Amanda Nunes, she was equally as vocal about potentially facing Ronda Rousey for years. However, that “battle of the bullies” never materialized.

    Fortunately for us, though, the fight between Peña and Nunes has and will go down in a matter of hours at UFC 269.

    Who do you think would have won a fight between Julianna Peña and Ronda Rousey?

  • Flashback To Nunes & Peña Agreeing To Title Fight In 2016

    There is some documentation to back up Julianna Peña’s claim that Amanda Nunes agreed to fight her after UFC 200.

    Julianna Peña’s warpath to a title shot against “The Lionness” Amanda Nunes will culminate in the battle tonight at UFC 269. One of Pena’s many claims leading up to the fight is that Nunes was supposed to fight her all the way back in 2016 after Nunes defeated Miesha Tate for the title at UFC 200. As it happens, this claim is backed up with some documentation.

    “Now that we know @RondaRousey isn’t coming back, I would love to, darling,” Nunes posted in a 2016 tweet directed at Peña.

    At that moment of time, with the sacred space of Twitter bearing witness, we appeared to have a bout for the UFC female bantamweight title sealed.

    However, Nunes would go on to fight Rousey after all at UFC 207 in one-sided beatdown while Peña lost to Shevchenko (and her title shot hopes) one month later.

    At the time Nunes sent the above tweet in 2016, Peña was skeptical even then. She claimed that Nunes had been ducking her for two years at that point, a claim “The Venezeuan Vixen” would continue repeating in 2021. That means Peña has been accusing Nunes of ducking her for a total of seven years. 

    “You have ducked me for 2 years. I’ll believe it when I see you on the otherside of the cage.”

    Peña will be made into a believer tonight when she finally stands across the cage from Amanda Nunes tonight at UFC 269. Here’s another look at how long Peña has been wanting to fight Nunes in a video shared on the ESPN MMA Twitter page Friday night.

    How do you see this five-year saga between Amanda Nunes and Julianna Peña concluding tonight at UFC 269?

  • Nunes Prepared For Peña The Same Way She Prepared For Meisha Tate

    Amanda Nunes feels well-prepared for the “Venezuelan Vixen.” 

    Every fight is a different affair. Amanda Nunes knows this going into UFC 269. So, while Nunes does look back on her past camps and opponents before she faces a new challenger, the American Top Team standout also tweaks everything just enough for the fresh challenges that Julianna Peña brings (h/t Bloody Elbow).

    “Julianna is an opponent I’ve known ever since the TUF days, which she won. I really know her style. She’s really close with Miesha Tate and they have the same style of fighting, but I think Julianna is even more of a grinder. We used a little bit of my camp for Tate for this Julianna fight, but with a bit more precision.”

    Amanda Nunes Smashes Meisha Tate at UFC 200 Image Credit: Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

    Staying Grounded As The Champ-Champ

    With wins over the likes of Ronda Rousey, Meisha Tate, Cris  Cyborg, and Holly Holm, many consider Nunes the best woman fighter to ever grace the Octagon. But the two-division champ doesn’t let her 12-fight win streak go to her head. “The Lioness” knows every opponent who stands across from her in the cage is hungry and ready to take what’s hers. 

    “I’m really looking forward to it, but at the same time I’m keeping my feet on the ground. I know everyone who walks into that cage will do their best to win. She has nothing to lose. I’m the champion and she’s going to come at me to take my belt. I just need to be really sharp so I can finish the fight at the right moment.”

    Peña earned her shot at the champ after submitting another former title challenger in Sarah McMann at UFC 257. Pena and Nunes were expected to clash at UFC 265, but Nunes tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the bout. 

    The Saturday will be the Nunes’ first trip back to bantamweight in almost two years. The champ spent 2020 and 2021 thus far, defending her featherweight belt against Megan Anderson and Felicia Spencer. 

  • Julianna Peña Gives Her Doubters A History Lesson Ahead Of UFC 269

    UFC women’s bantamweight contender Julianna Peña has provided some context behind her recent record for those who still doubt her credentials ahead of UFC 269.

    In this weekend’s co-main event, Peña will be the sixth woman to attempt to put an end to Nunes’ dominant reign over the 135-pound weight class. If she succeeds, she’ll achieve what the likes of Ronda Rousey, Valentina Shevchenko, and Holly Holm failed to do, and hand the “Lioness” her first loss in over seven years.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXPBQK8BCoj/

    As expected with a Nunes defense, especially when it comes after a first-round mauling against Megan Anderson earlier this year, not many are giving Peña even a slight chance of having her hand raised inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    Despite that, “The Venezuelan Vixen” has had an aura of confidence about her that not many have had ahead of challenging the Brazilian. She’s consistently stated that fans and pundits are wrongly sleeping on her ahead of the final pay-per-view of the year. Even Nunes admitted she hasn’t faced a trash-talker like Peña before.

    Peña Claims She Had Shevchenko “Dead In The Water”

    But many believe Peña’s willingness to engage in verbal warfare with Nunes is what landed her this opportunity, especially given her 2-2 record across her last four outings. The #3-ranked bantamweight contender has shut down that idea, and recently provided some context behind her last two defeats.

    During an appearance at UFC 269 media day on Wednesday, Peña reminded her doubters that her last two setbacks came against the promotion’s inaugural featherweight titleholder Germaine de Randamie and the reigning flyweight queen Shevchenko, who is widely regarded as one of the most dominant champions in the UFC right now. She also claimed she had both “dead in the water” before making mistakes that led to her downfall in each defeat.

    “I mean, if you look back any of my previous fights, I’ve only dropped two fights in the last 10 years, and they were to champions. And I was winning. If you go back and you look back at those fights, I’m literally winning them. I have them dead in the water. I made some amateur mistakes that I have been able to clean up, and I’m ready to execute. And I think that the most important thing is to just go out there, and just do my job, and focus on what I can do, and make sure that I execute.”

    While “dead in the water” is perhaps a strong term, there’s is certainly some legitimacy behind her claim. In an effort better than most who have fought Shevchenko in recent years, Peña secured the opening round when they met in 2017 before getting caught in a quick second-frame armbar.

    Valentina Shevchenko Armbar Submits Julianna Pena in UFC on Fox 23 Main Event

    Similarly, “The Venezuelan Vixen” appeared to be pulling away with her 2020 clash against de Randamie in the final round, before again falling into a submission. That time, it was a guillotine that marked the end of the contest.

    UFC Fight Island 4 video: Germaine de Randamie puts Julianna Pena to sleep with nasty guillotine choke - MMA Fighting

    If she’s to have any chance at victory this weekend, Peña will certainly have to be at the top of her game, avoid making the “amateur mistakes” she admits she did in her previous losses, and hope that Nunes isn’t the same brute she’s been in recent defenses.

    Do you believe Julianna Peña has what it takes to dethrone Amanda Nunes at UFC 269?

  • Amanda Nunes Knows She Has All The Answers For ‘Delusional’ Peña

    Amanda Nunes isn’t letting Julianna Peña’s trash talk get to her.

    Amanda Nunes is on the top of many people’s “Greatest of all Time” lists. She is the current two-division champ and has beaten some of the best the UFC has ever had to offer. She now is preparing for her sixth bantamweight title defense against Julianna Peña. Peña has been very confident heading into this match up but that doesn’t seem to be phasing Nunes at all.

    “She’s delusional,” Nunes told MMA Junkie. “What about her best friend, Miesha Tate? What about Sara McMann? Sara McMann almost beat her. Sara McMann give up in the fight. If she didn’t give up, she would’ve beat Julianna. I beat Sara McMann years ago. I feel like she can talk about whatever she wants. She has to do that to bring all the attention. I’m going to tell her she can have all the attention she wants because Saturday is my night. Nobody is going to take that belt from me.”

    Peña is 2-2 in her last four fights, whereas Nunes has won 12 in a row in two different divisions. Nunes believes she has the answers for Peña no matter where the fight goes. Peña has scored only one submission victory since coming to the UFC and has won two fights by TKO in that time.

    “She has all the holes, so I can finish her on the floor,” Nunes said. “Germaine (de Randamie) finished her. Germaine is a striker and finished Julianna Pena. My game is above all those girls she fought. I just need a mistake from her on the striking or on the floor.”

    Nunes vs. Peña will serve as the co-main event on the stacked UFC 269 card. If Peña can win it will be the first time the bantamweight title has changed hands since 2016. Peña believes she can be the one to finally dethrone “The Lioness”.

    Do you think Julianna Peña has what it takes to get past Amanda Nunes and win the belt at UFC 269?

  • Amanda Nunes: Nobody Talks Like Julianna Peña

    Two-division UFC champion Amanda Nunes says facing someone as willing to engage in trash talk as Julianna Peña will be new to her at UFC 269.

    For the first time since her 2019 victory over Germaine de Randamie, Nunes will be returning to bantamweight to defend her 135-pound title this weekend at the final pay-per-view of 2021. Across the last two years, the “Lioness” has successfully fended off the challenges of Felicia Spencer and Megan Anderson at featherweight.

    This Saturday’s co-main event offers Nunes the chance to record her sixth defense at bantamweight, matching the tally of former champ Ronda Rousey, and her eighth overall during her reign as double champ. In her way will be Peña, a confident contender who currently sits at #3 in the rankings.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CVYNcHJLHr1/

    Despite a mixed record in recent years, Peña cemented her shot earlier this year, largely due to her willingness to talk trash to the champ over social media and in interviews. During a recent appearance on DC & RC, Nunes admitted her upcoming opponent’s verbal bravery is new to her.

    “Honestly, just the talk. Nobody talk like Julianna. I’ve never fought nobody that talks like her. But honestly, don’t get me wrong, she’s tough, but she’s the only one who talks so much like that.”

    Despite that, Nunes suggested she’s always looking to finish her opponents and show her dominance in the Octagon, whether against silent and respectful foes or loud, trash-talking rivals.

    “Every time we step into the cage, we really think about finishing somebody. No matter if they talk or they be quiet. So with Julianna, it’s not different, you know. Every time that I step into the cage, I wanna really prove a point. I’m the better fighter here; I’m the best. With Julianna, I think it’s going to be the same. Any moment in this fight, I can finish her.”

    Nunes: Trash-Talking Opponents Like Peña Are My Favorite

    While she may boast a 25-fight professional career and has faced the likes of Shevchenko, Rousey, Miesha Tate, and Cris Cyborg, Peña appears to be bringing something unique to Nunes’ table ahead of UFC 269.

    Further discussing her next challenger in an interview with TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, the bantamweight and featherweight queen admitted that trash-talking opponents are her “favorite” to face.

    “I do (enjoy trash talk)… She’s been doing very good with her mouth by the way you guys tell me. So, I feel like she’s doing the right thing. She have to do something really to get in the fight because she never was a contender. She opened her mouth and she got here. I don’t think she did anything wrong.

    “I love those opponents. For me, it’s my favorite opponents, exactly like Julianna Peña. So, that really brings me, like, the best of me. I like that. It’s not that I take anything personal. It’s just that she makes me feel better, you know.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXJiVNRpr6X/

    Do you think Amanda Nunes will comfortably retain her bantamweight gold at UFC 269 this weekend?

  • Julianna Peña: “I Don’t Give An F” About Your Predictions

    As Julianna Peña prepares for her upcoming UFC title bout she isn’t listening to the haters.

    Julianna Peña has a date set for her first shot at the UFC bantamweight title. She will be taking on Amanda Nunes this weekend at the UFC 269 event. Peña has come a long way since she first got her start in the UFC as a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter, but she believes that people are not giving her the credit she deserves.

    “Nobody is counting me in as far as winning the fight. Everybody’s against me. No one is rooting for me,” Peña told Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour. “And literally, the whole world, it feels like, is against me. And that’s just kind of the way that it’s always been for me. It’s like everybody has always counted me out. They counted me out on The Ultimate Fighter. They’ve counted me out my entire career. No one ever takes me seriously. They’re willing to lose, but they don’t want to lose to me. And I just think that you cannot let what these people say get to you.”

    Peña has a lot to be proud of so far in her MMA career. She was the first female to win The Ultimate Fighter and has gone on to have a great UFC career. She is the #1 contender in the bantamweight division and after taking some time off to give birth to her daughter, has risen back up to secure a fight against Nunes. Peña is outspoken and isn’t one to hold back her feelings. She isn’t taking any hate in from the media of fans in the lead-up to this fight.

    “If I paid attention to every negative thing that somebody said, I would have needed to jump out of a window a long time ago,” Peña explained. “You gotta have thick skin in this business. And what you think or what this person thinks or Joe Blow or this guy and that, it’s none of my business. I know what I can do. I know what I’m capable of doing. And what you think about me is none of my business. I don’t give an F what other people think. It’s what I know and what’s in my heart. And in my heart and what I know is: I’m a champion, and I’m gonna be a champion, and I am the champion.”

    Peña has a tough test ahead of her as she looks to dethrone Nunes. Nunes hasn’t lost a bout in seven years. She currently holds the belt in two divisions and has taken out some of the best female fighters in history, including Cris Cyborg, Ronda Rousey, and Miesha Tate.

    Do you think Julianna Peña will have what it takes to defeat Amanda Nunes at UFC 269?

  • Julianna Peña Breaks Down What’s Made Amanda Nunes Successful

    UFC bantamweight contender Julianna Peña is planning to use the failures of Amanda Nunes’ past opponents to her advantage at UFC 269.

    Peña will meet Nunes for the bantamweight title in the UFC 269 co-main event on Dec. 11. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime for Peña, who has long called for a title shot against Nunes.

    Peña presents one of the few remaining new challenges to Nunes, who has virtually cleared out both the bantamweight and featherweight title pictures.

    During a recent interview with ESPN, Peña explained how she’s preparing for Nunes by analyzing the mistakes of previous title challengers.

    “I think in the beginning, when Amanda started her title reign, I don’t think everyone was taking her quite as serious as maybe they should have,” Peña said. “They didn’t realize at what strength and at what power she was coming. And I think that kind of had a role in it as well as the whole Ronda Rousey-type of thing where you’re already defeated before you get in there with her and you lose in 30 seconds. So I think a combination of those two things is what has made her very successful.”

    “Either they’re already mentally defeated before or they weren’t taking her strength quite as serious when they had to face her,” Pena continued. “They didn’t take the intensity quite as serious.”

    Julianna Peña Finally Gets Her Shot Against Amanda Nunes

    Peña signed with the UFC after defeating Jessica Rakoczy for The Ultimate Fighter: Season 18 championship. She went on a three-fight winning streak which included dominant performances over former UFC title challengers such as Jessica Eye and Cat Zingano.

    Peña rebounded from a tough loss to Germaine de Randamie at UFC Fight Island 4 with a submission finish over Sara McMann at UFC 257. Ever since her win over McMann, Pena has been pleading for a shot at Nunes’ title and has gone on quite the tirade of media attacks against the 135-pound champion.

    Peña has previously accused Nunes of running from her and avoiding a fight against her to defend her bantamweight title. After all the talk, she’ll finally get her chance to potentially pull off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history at UFC 269.

    Do you agree with Julianna Peña’s comments?

  • Peña Says People Are “Sleeping On” Her Ahead Of Nunes Title Fight

    UFC women’s bantamweight contender Julianna Peña believes people are unfairly writing her off ahead of her title fight with Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 this weekend.

    After COVID-19 saw her initial championship challenge postponed, Peña will finally fight for UFC gold for the first time in Las Vegas this Saturday. “The Venezuelan Vixen” will enter the pay-per-view co-main event having gone 2-2 in her last four outings.

    Defeats to Valentina Shevchenko and Germaine de Randamie were split with a decision victory over inaugural flyweight champ Nicco Montaño. A third-round submission win against Sara McMann at UFC 257 in January was enough to secure Peña a date with the “Lioness.”

    Prior to her loss against the current 125-pound queen, Peña defeated the likes of Jessica Eye and Cat Zingano on her way to a perfect 4-0 start on MMA’s biggest stage. The Ultimate Fighter 18 winner will be looking to add the name of Nunes to an already impressive résumé on December 11.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXIJPMiuOdu/

    A victory will certainly be no easy task. Nunes is the consensus Female GOAT and holds both the bantamweight and featherweight titles. Since a 2014 defeat to Zingano, the Brazilian has won 12 straight contests, defended her titles seven times, and beaten names like Shevchenko, Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm, and Raquel Pennington.

    With that in mind, it’s unsurprising not many are giving Peña a chance at having her hand raised at UFC 269. But in an interview with TMZ Sports, the number one contender suggested fans and pundits are wrongly “sleeping” on her, and admitted she’s relishing the underdog status.

    “I feel like a lot of people are sleeping on me, and they think that I’m a sacrificial lamb. But I definitely think that, you know, I know I’m definitely not a sacrificial lamb, and everybody loves an underdog. So, I’m just ready to get out there and bring something better to the table.”

    While many expect another easy ride for Nunes, former two-division title challenger Chael Sonnen shared a similar view as Peña. Although he didn’t predict an upset victory, he did suggest the 32-year-old is a lot more likely to do it than any of the champ’s previous challengers.

    Peña Has ‘Never Felt More Prepared’

    Julianna Pena
    Image Credit: Esther Lin of MMAFighting.com

    In her last two defenses, Nunes successfully retained her 145-pound gold with triumphs over Felicia Spencer and Megan Anderson, the latter of which came via a destructive first-round armbar at UFC 259 in March.

    It’s no secret that to have any hope of dethroning Nunes, Peña will have to be at the top of her game and hope that the two-division titleholder isn’t at the top of hers. According to the Washington native, she’s done everything she can ahead of the final pay-per-view of the year.

    “I am ready. I am in the zone. I have never felt more physically or mentally prepared in my life and it’s my time. It just feels so great to know that I have literally left no stone unturned. I’m ready to go. I’m in the zone… I am more ready than I’ve ever been in my life.”

    Whether her preparation will be enough remains to be seen, but Peña certainly has an aura of confidence that not many have seemed to have prior to facing Nunes. That could, of course, be shut down with another dominant performance from the Brazilian, but anything can happen in MMA…

    Do you think Julianna Peña has what it takes to dethrone Amanda Nunes?

  • The Countdown To UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier Officially Begins

    The Countdown to UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier has officially begun.

    For the last time in 2021, it’s fight week, fight fans! This year’s lineup of pay-per-view fights culminates with the lightweight title bout many believe should have happened back in May to crown the new champion. That fight will now take place Saturday when reigning lightweight champion Charles Oliveira takes on Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier in the UFC 269 main event.

    And in the co-main event, the consensus GOAT of women’s mixed martial arts, Amanda Nunes, defends her bantamweight title against Julianna Peña.

    The UFC’s countdown video sets the stage for both title fights.

    UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier: Countdown

    “If this thing gets gritty, if this thing gets bloody, and exhausting, drag ‘em out type of fight–that’s where I’m gonna shine.” – Dustin Poirier

    Dustin Poirier
    Dustin Poirier (Image Credit: Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

    Dustin Poirier has closed out his rivalry with Conor McGregor, at least for the time being, and all that’s left to do now is realize his dream of being the undisputed UFC champion. Dustin Poirier embodies the grind, and in the Countdown video, we are reminded of the dues that have been fully paid to arrive at this opportunity.

    “No matter who is on the other side, they will fold and fall.” – Charles Oliveira

    Charles Oliveira
    Credit: Jason Da Silva-USA TODAY Sports

    Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira has proven year after year that he is the definition of “kill or be killed.” In the Countdown video, the UFC chronicles the finishing ability of Oliveira, including the TKO that crowned him as the UFC’s lightweight champion and an immortalized Brazilian hero.

    “I’m the one fight that she doesn’t want because she knows that it’s gonna be a long night.” – Julianna Peña

    Julianna Peña
    Photo via Instagram @venezuelanvixen

    By now, the MMA world should be well aware of how badly Julianna Peña has wanted this fight. In case you forgot, the Countdown video reminds you of that. It also reminds viewers of something that may be lost in all the trash talk: the fact that Peña is a hardened OG of the bantamweight division who can become the first woman to go from Ultimate Fighter to Undisputed Champion.

    “I just need one mistake from her. From that moment, I’m gonna capitalize and finish the fight.” – Amanda Nunes

    Amanda Nunes
    Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    Amanda Nunes has made one thing clear since her rise to the top of women’s MMA: place anybody in front of her, and the outcome will remain the same. That, of course, would be Nunes having her hand raised. In the Countdown video, Nunes also shares a specific weakness she sees in Peña’s game. Meanwhile, the champ says she is continuing to evolve and get better every single day.

    UFC 269 takes place this Saturday, December 11, 2021, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card for the event also includes appearances by former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt and rising star “Sugar” Sean O’Malley. The entire card is absolutely stacked from top to bottom. You can view the full UFC 269 lineup as well as all the viewing information here.

    And without further ado, you can check out the full episode of UFC Countdown: Oliveira vs. Poirier below.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0G2dJDch0s

  • Julianna Peña Predicts “Very Long Night” In UFC 269 War

    Julianna Peña says Amanda Nunes shouldn’t be expecting another comfortable first-round win when they meet in the Octagon.

    After defending her featherweight gold at UFC 250 and 259, Nunes will be returning to 135 pounds this Saturday when Peña becomes the latest challenger to the dominant two-division reign of the “Lioness.” Despite going 2-2 in her last four bouts, which includes defeats to Valentina Shevchenko and Germaine de Randamie, Peña secured a title shot after an exchange with the Brazilian on social media following the champ’s last fight.

    The #3-ranked women’s bantamweight was last in action at UFC 257. A third-round submission victory over Sara McMann brought her back into the win column and was ultimately enough for her to earn a championship opportunity.

    UFC on Twitter: "The UFC BW title is back on the books for December ? ? @Amanda_Leoa and @VenezuelanVixen are set to square off at #UFC269. https://t.co/ANSTPeqyYX" / Twitter

    While many have suggested Nunes is set for another short night at the office, similar to her two-minute submission victory over Megan Anderson last time out, Peña sees the fight playing out very differently.

    While speaking with Jim Varsallone, “The Venezuelan Vixen” suggested her fight with Nunes will go long and be competitive. The 31-year-old went on to add that she’s preparing for a war against the most dominant woman in MMA history.

    “You can predict everything. You can predict the sky’s gonna be pink tomorrow. But at the end of the day, you’re not gonna know until you make it to that point. And when it’s all said and done, then, you’ll be able to say oh, this, this, and look like Nostradamus.

    Julianna Peña
    Photo via Instagram @venezuelanvixen

    “But at the end of the day, I’m not guaranteeing anything other than she is not gonna be in some fight where it’s gonna go a minute and it’s gonna be this gigantic blowout. Absolutely not. It’s going to be a very long night for both of us, and I’m expecting a long, tough, grueling fight. And that’s what I’m preparing for. I’m preparing for war,” said Peña.

    Nunes’ latest title defense won’t be the only championship fight on the UFC 269 card. Her clash with Peña will be followed by a lightweight championship clash between Charles Oliveira (c) and Dustin Poirier in the PPV’s main event.

    Do you think Julianna Peña has what it takes to dethrone Amanda Nunes at UFC 269?

  • Dana White Shares “Savage” Julianna Peña Story Ahead Of UFC 269

    UFC bantamweight contender Julianna Peña pleaded to Dana White for a shot at Amanda Nunes, and she’ll get her chance at UFC 269.

    Peña will face Nunes in her first shot at the UFC bantamweight title after years in the promotion. She most recently defeated Sara McMann by submission at UFC 257.

    White gave Peña a shot in the UFC after she earned a dominant victory over Jessica Rakoczy on The Ultimate Fighter: Season 18.

    Peña hasn’t mince words when it comes to her thoughts about her chances against Nunes in the UFC 269 co-main event. During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, White praised Peña for her confidence and approach to the upcoming title fight.

    “I love that about Julianna Peña,” White said. “She’s a savage. She is an absolute lunatic. She got in a fistfight with a bouncer in a bar, OK? She got into a full-blown fistfight with a bouncer in a bar, and the bouncer called the police. Let’s put it that way. [LAUGHS] Julianna is a fighter, and there’s no doubt in my mind that she’s gonna come in and go to war with Amanda Nunes. How that turns out, we will see (on) Saturday.”

    Julianna Peña Is Looking To Prove To Dana White That She Can Win

    Pena has gone off on Nunes in a series of recent interviews leading up to her fight with Nunes. The two top bantamweights were originally scheduled to fight at UFC 265, but Nunes withdrew from the bout on short notice. Pena has said that Nunes can’t claim the status of the women’s MMA GOAT without fighting her.

    White has been very vocal when it comes to Nunes’ dominance inside the octagon. He’s called Nunes the undisputed female GOAT and has said that other fighters such as Kayla Harrison and Cris “Cyborg” Justino don’t belong in the same discussion as her.

    What are your predictions for Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Peña at UFC 269?