| Julianna Peña | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Peña in 2021 | |
| Born | (1989-08-19)August 19, 1989 (age 36) Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Other names | The Venezuelan Vixen |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Weight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) |
| Division | Bantamweight (2013–present) Flyweight (2013) |
| Reach | 69 in (175 cm)[1] |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Team | SikJitsu (2008–present)[2] Luiz Claudio Combat Team Valle Flow Striking (2016–present)[3] GregoryBoxing &Muay Thai |
| Rank | Black belt inBrazilian jiu-jitsuunder Luiz Claudio and Thiago Veiga[4] |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 18 |
| Wins | 12 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 5 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 6 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Julianna Peña (born August 19, 1989) is an American professionalmixed martial artist who competes in the women'sBantamweight division of theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is the former two-timeUFC Women's Bantamweight Champion. Peña is the first woman to winThe Ultimate Fighter. As of June 10, 2025, she is #1 in theUFC women's bantamweight rankings, and as of November 25, 2025, she is #8 in theUFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.[5]
The youngest of four siblings, Peña was born and raised inSpokane, Washington.[6] Julianna graduated in 2007 fromMt. Spokane High School.[7] She then attendedSpokane Community College.[8] In order to lose weight and channel aggression in her early adulthood, she enrolled in a cardiokickboxing class and subsequently transitioned to mixed martial arts.[6]
After going 2–0 as an amateur, Peña made her professional MMA debut in May 2009.[9] She won four consecutive fights but suffered her first defeat in April 2012 to future fellowThe Ultimate Fighter 18 cast memberSarah Moras in a 140-pound catchweight bout.[10] The fight took place just two months and one week after Peña was involved in an accident with a drunk driver while walking in downtown Spokane in which she was knocked unconscious and suffered a broken nose.[11][9] Ten months later she returned to professional competition in a fight in the flyweight division, a move down from the bantamweight division, losing by unanimous decision.
In August 2013, it was announced that Peña was one of the fighters selected to be onThe Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate.[12]
Peña facedGina Mazany in the elimination fight to get into the house. She controlled the fight from early on, winning a clear unanimous decision victory after two rounds.[13][14]
During the first tournament fight in the house, Peña faced veteran and top-ten rankedShayna Baszler. Ronda Rousey selected this match-up between the two first female picks. The highly ranked and more experienced Baszler was widely considered the favorite. After a back and forth first round in which Peña landed effective boxing combinations and escaped several of Baszler's submission attempts, Peña came out hard in the second round, connecting with powerful knee strikes that staggered Baszler. The fight went to the ground, where Peña was able to achieve back mount and won viarear naked choke for perhaps the biggest upset victory of the season.[15]
In the semifinals, Peña faced off against Sarah Moras. The two fought previously in a professional bout in 2012, with Peña losing after suffering an injury due to an armbar which forced the doctor to stop the bout between the second and third rounds. Peña won the fight viaguillotine choke in the second round to avenge the loss.[16]
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Peña facedJessica Rakoczy in the finals on November 30, 2013, atThe Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale. She won the bout via TKO in the final seconds of the first round and becameTUF 18 women's bantamweight champion.[17]
Peña was expected to faceJessica Andrade atUFC 171 on March 15, 2014.[18] However, Peña pulled out of the bout after suffering an injury to her right knee. She suffered the injury while grappling in training, ultimately damaging, among other aspects, herACL,MCL,LCL andmeniscus. Despite the severity of the injury, doctors assured Peña that her right knee would return to full strength following surgery and rehabilitation.[19] The injury kept Peña out of action for the rest of 2014.[20]
Peña returned to face Milana Dudieva on April 4, 2015, atUFC Fight Night 63. She won the fight via TKO in the first round. The win also earned Peña her firstPerformance of the Night bonus award.[21]
Peña next facedJessica Eye on October 3, 2015, atUFC 192.[22] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[23]
Peña faced former title challengerCat Zingano atUFC 200 on July 9, 2016.[24] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[25]
Peña facedValentina Shevchenko atUFC on Fox 23 on January 28, 2017.[26] She lost the fight via armbar submission in the second round.[27]
On October 14, 2017, Peña announced that she was pregnant and would be taking an indefinite hiatus from the sport.[28] On July 13, 2019, atUFC Fight Night 155, nearly two and a half years from her last bout, she returned and faced formerUFC Women's Flyweight ChampionNicco Montaño, replacing an injuredSara McMann.[29] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[30]
Peña was expected to faceAspen Ladd on March 28, 2020, atUFC on ESPN 8.[31] However, Peña pulled out of the fight in early March citing an injury.[32]
Peña facedGermaine de Randamie on October 4, 2020, atUFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana.[33] She lost the fight via a guillotine choke in round three.[34]
Peña was expected to faceSara McMann on January 16, 2021, atUFC on ABC 1 before being pushed back a week later toUFC 257 on January 24, 2021.[35][36][37] Peña won the fight via submission in round three.[38]
Peña was scheduled to faceHolly Holm on May 8, 2021, atUFC on ESPN 24.[39] However, Holm was forced to withdraw from the bout citinghydronephrosis.[40]
Peña was expected to faceAmanda Nunes for theUFC Women's Bantamweight Championship on August 7, 2021, atUFC 265.[41] However Nunes tested positive forCOVID-19 on July 29, 2021.[42][43] The bout was rescheduled toUFC 269 on December 11, 2021.[44] After a dominant round one from Nunes, Peña came back in the second to win the bout and championship by rear-naked choke submission in what is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.[45][46][47][48]
On February 5, 2022, it was announced that Peña and Nunes would be the coaches forThe Ultimate Fighter 30 onESPN+, which would feature contestants from the heavyweight and women's flyweight divisions.[49]
A rematch againstAmanda Nunes for theUFC Women's Bantamweight title took place on July 30, 2022, atUFC 277.[50] Peña lost the fight by unanimous decision.[51]
A trilogy bout withAmanda Nunes was scheduled to take place on June 10, 2023, atUFC 289.[52] However, on May 2, 2023, it was announced that Peña pulled out of the bout due to broken ribs she sustained during training camp.Irene Aldana, who was scheduled to headlineUFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill, was subsequently chosen to replace her.[53]
Peña facedRaquel Pennington for theUFC Women's Bantamweight Championship on October 5, 2024, atUFC 307.[54] She reclaimed the championship by winning the bout by split decision.[55] 25 out of 26 media outlets scored the bout for Pennington and one scored it as a draw.[56]
Peña faced2019 and2021 PFL Women's Lightweight Champion (also2012 and2016 Olympic gold medalist in judo)Kayla Harrison on June 7, 2025, atUFC 316.[57] She lost the championship via a kimura submission at the end of the second round.[58]
Peña was featured in the award-winning mixed martial arts documentaryFight Life, the film is directed by James Z. Feng and was released in 2012.[59]
She is an announcer, along with Max Bretos, forCombate Americas' English language broadcast onDAZN.[60]
Peña debuted as a commentator forReal American Freestyle (RAF) atRAF 02 on October 25, 2025.[61]
Peña is ofMexican andVenezuelan descent.[62] In January 2018, Peña gave birth to her first child, a daughter.[63]
Julianna Peña is the younger sister of formerKREM 2 reporter andmeteorologist Grace Peña.[64]
On December 20, 2015, Peña was arrested inSpokane, Washington and charged with two counts of assault due to an altercation with bar staff following an earlierstreet fight in which Josh Gow, her training partner on the Sikjitsu fight team, had been injured. A judge later granted a stipulation order ofcontinuance in her case such that if Peña had no other incidents for a year, the case would bedismissed.[65]
| 18 matches | 12 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 1 |
| By submission | 5 | 3 |
| By decision | 4 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 12–6 | Kayla Harrison | Submission (kimura) | UFC 316 | June 7, 2025 | 2 | 4:55 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | Lost theUFC Women's Bantamweight Championship. Peña was deducted one point in round 1 due to illegal upkicks. |
| Win | 12–5 | Raquel Pennington | Decision (split) | UFC 307 | October 5, 2024 | 5 | 5:00 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | Won theUFC Women's Bantamweight Championship. |
| Loss | 11–5 | Amanda Nunes | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 277 | July 30, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Dallas, Texas, United States | Lost theUFC Women's Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 11–4 | Amanda Nunes | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 269 | December 11, 2021 | 2 | 3:26 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Won theUFC Women's Bantamweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 10–4 | Sara McMann | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 257 | January 24, 2021 | 3 | 3:39 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Loss | 9–4 | Germaine de Randamie | Technical submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana | October 4, 2020 | 3 | 3:25 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 9–3 | Nicco Montaño | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd | July 13, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| Loss | 8–3 | Valentina Shevchenko | Submission (armbar) | UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña | January 28, 2017 | 2 | 4:29 | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 8–2 | Cat Zingano | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 200 | July 9, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 7–2 | Jessica Eye | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 192 | October 3, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | Eye was deducted one point in round 2 due to an illegal knee. |
| Win | 6–2 | Milana Dudieva | TKO (punches and elbows) | UFC Fight Night: Mendes vs. Lamas | April 4, 2015 | 1 | 3:59 | Fairfax, Virginia, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 5–2 | Jessica Rakoczy | TKO (punches) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate Finale | November 30, 2013 | 1 | 4:59 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Bantamweight. WonThe Ultimate Fighter 18 Bantamweight Tournament. |
| Loss | 4–2 | DeAnna Bennett | Decision (unanimous) | Showdown Fights 10 | February 8, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Orem, Utah, United States | Flyweight debut. |
| Loss | 4–1 | Sarah Moras | TKO (doctor stoppage) | ExciteFight: Conquest of the Cage 11 | April 19, 2012 | 2 | 5:00 | Airway Heights, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Rachael Swatez | Submission (guillotine choke) | ExciteFight: Conquest of the Cage 10 | December 15, 2011 | 2 | 0:17 | Airway Heights, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Stephanie Webber | Submission (armbar) | CageSport 8 | December 5, 2009 | 2 | 2:54 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Robyn Dunne | TKO (punches) | International FC: Caged Combat | August 15, 2009 | 1 | N/A | Penticton, British Columbia, Canada | Catchweight (110 lb) bout. |
| Win | 1–0 | Raylene Harvey | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ExciteFight: Spokane Fight Night 5 | May 9, 2009 | 1 | 2:58 | Spokane, Washington, United States | Bantamweight debut. |
| Exhibition record breakdown | ||
| 3 matches | 3 wins | 0 losses |
| By submission | 2 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 3–0 | Sarah Moras | Submission (guillotine choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate | November 13, 2013 (air date) | 2 | 3:31 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | The Ultimate Fighter 18 semi-final. |
| Win | 2–0 | Shayna Baszler | Submission (rear-naked choke) | September 11, 2013 (air date) | 2 | 3:07 | The Ultimate Fighter 18 preliminary round. | ||
| Win | 1–0 | Gina Mazany | Decision (unanimous) | September 4, 2013 (air date) | 2 | 5:00 | The Ultimate Fighter 18 elimination round. |
| Amateur record breakdown | ||
| 2 matches | 2 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 2–0 | Cynthia Hernandez | TKO (submission to punch) | Northwest Fighting: Moses Lake Cage Fights 1 | February 28, 2009 | 1 | N/A | Moses Lake, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Kate Dell | Decision (unanimous) | ExciteFight: Spokane Fight Night 3 | February 6, 2009 | 3 | 3:00 | Spokane, Washington, United States |
| No. | Event | Fight | Date | Venue | City | PPV Buys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | UFC 277 | Peña vs. Nunes 2 | July 30, 2022 | American Airlines Center | Dallas, Texas, United States | Not Disclosed[86] |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | 5thUFC Women's Bantamweight Champion December 11, 2021 – July 30, 2022 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | 8thUFC Women's Bantamweight Champion October 5, 2024 – June 7, 2025 | Succeeded by |
Updated to 9 December 2025 |
Updated to 3 February 2026 |
