Throughout her illustrious UFC career, Amanda Nunes has only lost twice. The first was a TKO finish to Cat Zingano, all the way back in 2014. The second, and the more shocking one, was to Julianna Pena at UFC 269 in late 2022. ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ surprised everyone with a second-round submission win over the former two-weight champion. This was no small feat, and certainly would not have been possible without her coaching team. 

That team remains just as important today as Pena prepares for her next massive challenge. At UFC 316, Pena will defend her bantamweight crown against Olympic gold medalist and former PFL champ Kayla Harrison. While many fans are focused on the clash itself, others are asking: Who’s behind Pena’s camp? Where does she train? And who’s the coach fueling her title reign?

Julianna Pena’s coach and gym

Julianna Pena trains under Coach Mike Valle at Valle Flow Striking (VFS) Academy in Chicago. She joined the gym in 2016 and has since found more than just a coach—she’s found family. 

Valle, a renowned striking coach with a global resume, founded VFS Academy. From leading the Latin America program at Jackson’s MMA to coaching fighters across major promotions, Valle’s experience runs deep. And he’s brought that knowledge into the heart of Chicago, where he continues to shape elite fighters in MMA, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai.

Before moving to VFS, Peña trained at SikJitsu in Spokane, Washington, starting back in 2008. It was there that she began her MMA journey under coach Rick Little. She also sharpened her BJJ skills with the LCCT Combat Team led by Luiz Claudio and Thiago Viega. 

However, her training base has since shifted entirely to Chicago, where she works closely with Valle and his crew at VFS. So, who are the teammates that have helped her sharpen her skills to a razor’s edge? 

Who are Julianna Pena’s teammates

VFS isn’t just Julianna Pena’s training camp, it’s a war room full of top-tier fighters. The gym has been home to UFC stars like Belal Muhammad, Yair Rodríguez, Erik “Goyito” Perez, Michelle Waterson, and even legends like Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Carlos Condit.

Coach Mike Valle’s reach spans beyond borders. He’s coached athletes in TUF Latin America, helped build up names like Brandon Moreno and Alejandro Perez, and supported veterans like Clay Guida and Derek Brunson. This mix of experience and rising talent makes VFS a unique melting pot of fight styles and philosophies.

In a recent interview with DAZN, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ confessed, “He’s been able to produce an MMA team that has achieved a lot in the sport. And it is because we are a family. It is because we are a small, tight-knit community. We don’t need state-of-the-art this or state-of-the-art that. We teach each other. We learn from each other. We’re there for each other. We bleed together, we cry together, we sweat.”

It’s that raw, gritty, shoulder-to-shoulder grind that has elevated Pena and her teammates to championship heights. Her coach even issued a bold warning for Kayla Harrison! 

Coach Mike Valle cautions UFC 316 opponent Kayla Harrison

Ahead of UFC 316, Coach Valle had a message for Kayla Harrison. Don’t underestimate Julianna Pena. In a conversation with MMA Junkie, Valle had stated, “Whenever Harrison sees Julianna in front of her, she’s going to be like, ‘Oh my God. This girl is way better than what I think.’ And she’s going to be in tons of trouble. That’s what it is.”

He’s heard it all before: Pena’s not powerful enough, skilled enough, or athletic enough. Valle disagreed as he further shared, “You may see the skills and go, ‘OK, she lacks here and here.’ That’s fine. When you have her in front of you, you’re going to see how good she is.”

According to Valle, it’s not just about skills, it’s about willpower. And Pena, he claims, has it in spades. So, with UFC 316 fast approaching, the camp is locked in. She reclaimed her title in a gritty split decision win over Raquel Pennington at UFC 307. Now, she faces one of her toughest tests yet in Kayla Harrison.

But with Mike Valle in her corner and a battle-tested team behind her, the question remains: will that be enough to stop Kayla Harrison’s surge towards the title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!