
via Getty
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 13: Julianna Pena reacts after the conclusion of her women’s bantamweight bout against Nico Montano during the UFC Fight Night event at Golden 1 Center on July 13, 2019 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

via Getty
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 13: Julianna Pena reacts after the conclusion of her women’s bantamweight bout against Nico Montano during the UFC Fight Night event at Golden 1 Center on July 13, 2019 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Julianna Peña shocked the world with her win over UFC female GOAT Amanda Nunes. Her win was by far one of the greatest upsets in UFC history. Nevertheless, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ won the belt fair and square and is on track for a rematch against Nunes.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Peña appeared on ‘The MMA Hour’ with Ariel Helwani for the first time since she became champ. She talked about WrestleMania 38, contract renegotiations with Nunes, and former UFC superstar Ronda Rousey’s legacy in the sport.
Peña has stated that she wants to fight Ronda Rousey, yet talks about how ‘Rowdy’ ruined her legacy by exiting the UFC. This is what ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ had to say about Rousey’s legacy in the UFC.

“Ronda is so old news, right?… I think that what’s incredible about her is that she opened up the door and was destroying people in 10 seconds, and became a star because she was demolishing people in the first round, and that’s great — but she got knocked out twice and never came back. So how legit is she?”
WATCH THIS STORY – Jon Jones, Kamaru Usman, Dana White, and Others From the MMA World Reacts to Will Smith-Chris Rock Oscars Incident
She continued, “She had to go to pro wrestling. And I get that, and I think that’s great. But as a fighter and somebody who is competitive, I know that — deep down — it probably truly bothers her, the fact that she went away off of two knockout losses and never came back to make her name good.“
Julianna Peña wants the money fight in the UFC
The UFC women’s bantamweight champion claimed she would love to welcome ‘Rowdy’ back to professional fighting.
“If it really truly does bother her and if it gets under her skin at the end of the day to know that, you know, her legacy is kind of ruined by the fact that she never came back and never got back on the horse, then I would like to invite her to please come back — and if she would like to come back, I would welcome her with open arms.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad

via Getty
COLUMBUS, OH – MARCH 03: Ronda Rousey is declared the winner. And new bantamweight champion after her fight with Miesha Tate. During the Strikeforce event at Nationwide Arena on March 3, 2012 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Esther Lin/Forza LLC/Forza LLC via Getty Images)
Ronda Rousey might have left the UFC in 2016. Although the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion departed, she is still one of the biggest draws in women’s combat sports. Her performance in WWE has massively boosted her appeal as a role model for female combat sports enthusiasts.
Also Read: All You Need to Know About Julianna Pena: Career, Records, and Achievements
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Now that Peña is the queen of the bantamweight division, she wants Rousey back in the UFC for a fight. Not a bad idea, after all. This is given that Peña is rapidly growing in popularity in the world of overall combat sports and Rousey is one of the best female entertainers in all of the UFC and WWE.
Despite what’s being said and done, Peña is on track to fight Amanda Nunes in an immediate rematch. This will take place immediately after the UFC finishes production on The Ultimate Fighter where both women are serving as coaches.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT