Julianna Pena Pleads Her Case to Get a Shot at Ronda Rousey
The Ultimate Fighter 18, coached by bitter rivals Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate in 2013, was planned to build depth in the freshly created UFC women’s bantamweight division. Out of the eight contestants, the reality series produced two fighters that are currently ranked in the top 15: TUF 18 winner Julianna Pena and Raquel Pennington.
Pena emerged from the eight-woman tournament as the first female to win The Ultimate Fighter by defeating Jessica Rakoczy by technical knockout in the show’s finale. While preparing for her next fight, Pena suffered a serious knee injury that put her out of competition for the next 17 months.
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“The Venezuelan Vixen” returned to action in April, defeating Milana Dudieva in the first round via strikes. She logged the biggest win of her career on Oct. 3, beating top ten-ranked Jessica Eye by unanimous decision.
The 26-year-old wants a title shot and laid out her case for why she should get one during the UFC 192 post-fight press conference.
“I did not get in this sport to be at the bottom of the roster. I got in this sport to let the world know that I’m the toughest 135-pound female fighter in the world,” said Pena. “I’m 6-0, Ronda (Rousey) is 6-0; I don’t think (a title shot) out of the realm of possibility.”
Pena was a member of Team Tate on The Ultimate Fighter. She’s a training partner of Rousey’s rival and has taken verbal jabs at the champion in the past.
“I’m looking to get into a title shot,” she said. “Jessica Eye, after her loss to Miesha Tate, had she of won she would have been in line for the next title shot. Why not me?”
