Julianna Peña Bio
Julianna Peña, born on August 19, 1989, in Spokane, Washington, is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the women’s Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She is recognized as the first woman to win The Ultimate Fighter and as a former two-time UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion. Fighting out of Chicago, Illinois, she represents SikJitsu and is widely known by her ring name, The Venezuelan Vixen.
Throughout her career, Julianna Peña has built a record of 12 wins and 6 losses across 18 professional bouts, with victories coming by knockout, submission, and decision. She holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Luiz Claudio and Thiago Veiga and has earned recognition as one of the most determined competitors in the women’s bantamweight division.
Early Life and Background
The youngest of four siblings, Julianna Peña was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. She is of Mexican and Venezuelan descent, a heritage that inspired her longtime ring nickname. Her older sister, Grace Peña, later became a reporter and meteorologist at KREM 2 in Spokane.
Julianna graduated from Mt. Spokane High School in 2007 before attending Spokane Community College. During her early adulthood, she enrolled in a cardio kickboxing class to lose weight and channel her energy, which quickly grew into a passion for martial arts. She soon transitioned into training in mixed martial arts and began laying the foundation for a professional career.
Path to MMA
After building an amateur record of 2-0, Julianna Peña made her professional mixed martial arts debut in May 2009. She won her first four professional fights, establishing herself as a rising talent on the regional circuit. Her early development took place at SikJitsu, where she trained alongside dedicated teammates and built a strong grappling base.
Her momentum was tested in April 2012 when she suffered her first professional defeat to Sarah Moras in a 140-pound catchweight bout. The fight came just two months after Peña had been struck by a drunk driver while walking in downtown Spokane, an accident that left her with a broken nose and a brief loss of consciousness. She later returned at flyweight, marking the start of her long journey toward the UFC.
Julianna Peña Career
Early Career (2009-2013)
Julianna Peña competed across regional promotions from 2009 to 2013, compiling early wins and gaining valuable experience in both the bantamweight and flyweight divisions. Her performances drew the attention of UFC matchmakers, who selected her as one of the fighters for The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate in August 2013.
Inside the TUF house, she defeated Gina Mazany in the elimination round before scoring one of the season’s biggest upsets over top-ranked Shayna Baszler via rear-naked choke. She then avenged her earlier loss to Sarah Moras with a guillotine choke in the semifinals, setting up a showdown with Jessica Rakoczy for the tournament crown.
The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale and UFC Debut (2013-2015)
On November 30, 2013, Julianna Peña faced Jessica Rakoczy in the TUF 18 Finale and won via technical knockout in the final seconds of the first round to claim the women’s bantamweight tournament title. The victory made her the first woman to win The Ultimate Fighter and launched her UFC career in memorable fashion.
A scheduled bout with Jessica Andrade at UFC 171 was canceled after Peña tore multiple ligaments in her right knee during training, keeping her out of action through 2014. She returned at UFC Fight Night 63 in April 2015, stopping Milana Dudieva in the first round and earning her first Performance of the Night bonus. She followed that with a unanimous decision win over Jessica Eye at UFC 192.
Rise Through the Rankings (2016-2019)
Julianna Peña defeated former title challenger Cat Zingano by unanimous decision at UFC 200 in July 2016, strengthening her position inside the top ten. Her momentum was halted in January 2017 when she fell to Valentina Shevchenko via second-round armbar at UFC on Fox 23.
In October 2017, Peña announced she was pregnant and stepped away from competition. She returned nearly two and a half years later at UFC Fight Night 155 in July 2019, earning a unanimous decision win over former flyweight champion Nicco Montaño in a short-notice fight.
Championship Run (2020-2022)
After a submission loss to Germaine de Randamie in October 2020, Julianna Peña bounced back with a third-round submission of Sara McMann at UFC 257 in January 2021. Her career-defining moment came at UFC 269 on December 11, 2021, when she dethroned long-reigning champion Amanda Nunes via rear-naked choke in the second round, an outcome widely regarded as one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
Peña and Nunes served as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 30 on ESPN+ before meeting in a rematch at UFC 277 on July 30, 2022. Nunes reclaimed the bantamweight title by unanimous decision, and a planned trilogy bout at UFC 289 fell through in May 2023 when Peña withdrew due to broken ribs sustained in training camp.
Second Reign and Recent Fights (2024-2025)
Julianna Peña reclaimed the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship at UFC 307 on October 5, 2024, defeating Raquel Pennington by split decision despite most media outlets scoring the bout for her opponent. The win returned her to the top of the division and reaffirmed her place among the sport’s elite.
On June 7, 2025, at UFC 316, Peña faced two-time PFL Women’s Lightweight Champion and two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison. She lost the championship via kimura submission at the end of the second round. As of June 2025, she is ranked #1 in the UFC women’s bantamweight division and #9 in the UFC women’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Style and Strengths
Julianna Peña is known for her aggressive grappling style, sharp boxing combinations, and tenacious top pressure. Training under Luiz Claudio at SikJitsu and refining her striking at Valle Flow Striking and Gregory Boxing and Muay Thai, she blends submission threats with forward-moving pressure to break down opponents over the course of a fight.
Notable Events and Milestones
Peña’s signature achievements include becoming the first woman to win The Ultimate Fighter in 2013, capturing the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship twice, and authoring the stunning upset of Amanda Nunes at UFC 269. Her split-decision win over Raquel Pennington at UFC 307 added a second title reign to her résumé.
Julianna Peña Career Wins
Across her professional career, Julianna Peña has tallied 12 wins in 18 bouts, with finishes spread across knockouts, submissions, and decisions. Her victories have come against a mix of ranked contenders, former champions, and tournament opponents across multiple promotions.
UFC and TUF Highlights
Peña’s UFC win column includes a TKO of Milana Dudieva, a decision over Jessica Eye, a decision over Cat Zingano, a decision over Nicco Montaño, a submission of Sara McMann, the iconic rear-naked choke of Amanda Nunes at UFC 269, and a split decision over Raquel Pennington at UFC 307. Earlier, she earned her TUF 18 Finale TKO over Jessica Rakoczy to claim the inaugural women’s bantamweight tournament title.
Other Wins and Performances
Before joining the UFC roster, Peña built her résumé with four straight professional victories following her May 2009 debut. She has also earned a Performance of the Night bonus and served as a broadcast announcer for Combate Americas on DAZN, while making her commentator debut for Real American Freestyle at RAF 02 on October 25, 2025.
Julianna Peña Family
Family Background and Heritage
Julianna Peña is of Mexican and Venezuelan descent, a heritage that inspired her ring nickname The Venezuelan Vixen. She is the youngest of four siblings and grew up alongside her older sister Grace Peña, who later worked as a reporter and meteorologist at Spokane’s KREM 2.
Personal Life
Peña gave birth to her first child, a daughter, in January 2018, the same year she stepped away from active competition to focus on motherhood. She currently resides in Chicago, Illinois, where she trains out of SikJitsu under Luiz Claudio and Thiago Veiga.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign began with Julianna Peña still holding the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship after her October 2024 split-decision win over Raquel Pennington at UFC 307. Entering the year as the reigning champion and #1-ranked bantamweight, she was positioned as one of the division’s most marketable stars heading into her first title defense.
That title defense came at UFC 316 on June 7, 2025, against Kayla Harrison, a former two-time Olympic judo gold medalist and two-time PFL Women’s Lightweight Champion. Peña was submitted via kimura at the end of the second round, ending her second reign and surrendering the bantamweight title.
Following the loss, Peña remained a top contender, ranked #1 at bantamweight and #9 in the UFC women’s pound-for-pound rankings as of June 2025. With a deep well of experience, a strong team at SikJitsu, and a resume that includes two bantamweight title reigns, her outlook for the remainder of the year points toward an immediate return to title contention.
