TUF 18 winner Julianna Pena may be out two years with multiple leg injuries
Yesterday we told you that The Ultimate Fighter season 18 winner Julianna Pena injured her knee and was forced to pull out of UFC 171. Today, we know a little bit more about the extent of her severely injured knee.
Pena's coach, Rick Little, told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani that Pena tore her ACL, MCL, LCL, a meniscus and a hamstring, calling it the worst injury he's ever seen. UFC president Dana White spoke with Pena while she was at the hospital and reports that the TUF winner will be out for two years.
White also tweeted his opinion that Pena should leave her team because of the injury.
What happened to @VenezuelanVixen at "her gym" is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard," tweeted White. "Ranked #10 out for 2 years. #leavethatgymnow.
Pena's gym is Sik-Jitsu Fighting Systems, which also houses fellow TUF winner Michael Chiesa and UFC featherweight Sam Sicilia.
Pena's coach Little defended his gym on twitter to White saying, "@danawhite that gym handed u 2 ultimate fighters raised from teenagers created from scratch, there is a reason she destroyed evry1 in UFC."
Little also took to the Underground Forum to explain the situation a bit more. According to the UG, the injury happened during an over aggressive training session, which followed up a short warm up. While grappling with a training partner, Pena's knee locked up and also got hyper-extended, causing the knee to buckle under her.
Pena will be replaced on the March 15 UFC 171 card by fellow TUF 18 cast member Raquel Pennington.
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