Stopping the ‘GOAT’ of women’s MMA in her tracks is not everyone’s cup of tea. But this is exactly what Julianna Pena has achieved in her stellar career when she beat Amanda Nunes for division gold. The women’s bantamweight queen is nicknamed ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’. But that moniker is kind of misleading as it makes people think that she is from Venezuela. While her nickname has some truth to it, she isn’t entirely of Venezuelan descent, as we will see later.

Additionally, the Brazilian was the first woman to win a season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ back in 2013. Since then, she has established herself as one of the most influential female juggernauts in the MMA world. This has spurred fight fans around the world to know more about her background, so let’s dive into Julianna Pena’s life!

What is Julianna Pena’s ethnicity and nationality?

Pena’s cultural identity is a blend of North and South America. Her mother, Pamela Peña, is from Mexico, while her father, Ernie Peña, hails from Venezuela. This makes Julianna Pena of Venezuelan-Mexican ancestry. However, she was born and raised in America and grew up in Spokane, Washington.

While she embraces both sides of her lineage, Pena has always leaned into her Venezuelan roots more publicly, especially in her fighting moniker, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’. She proudly represents the South American country in the Octagon, honoring her father’s heritage in both name and spirit.

Despite her connection to Venezuela, Julianna Pena’s American upbringing has been central to her journey. Her nationality is American, and she is the youngest of four siblings in a tight-knit, immigrant family. 

As is universally true, her parents doted on her for being the youngest. They were thus understandably hesitant to let her become a martial artist, disconcerted at the prospect of seeing their baby girl hurt. Her father eventually gave in when he realized her daughter’s passion for the fight game.

 “At first they were very hesitant because I’m the baby of four and my dad didn’t like seeing his baby girl get punched in the face. Once they saw how dedicated I was and how passionate I became about MMA, they jumped on board and supported me wholeheartedly. I’m glad to have changed their minds,” Pena revealed in an interview.

Throughout that journey, Julianna Pena’s faith has served as her guiding light. We will examine her religious beliefs next.

What religion does Julianna Pena follow?

Julianna Pena’s faith is a key part of her life and mindset. In an interview with The Spokesman-Review after shocking the world against Amanda Nunes, Pena said, “I definitely think that that faith in God has also helped me achieve my goals. It’s something that’s going to help me achieve more goals in the future.”

 While she hasn’t spoken in-depth about her religious denomination, her reference to “faith in God,” combined with her name and cultural roots, suggests she follows Christianity. With that being said, other than her faith, it was her upbringing that turned her into a relentless warrior inside the Octagon!

More about Julianna Pena’s early life and background

As mentioned earlier, Julianna Pena grew up in Spokane, Washington. Despite growing up far from her parents’ homeland, the scintillating hill community she called home was no less impressive and enchanting. Like the majority of the kids, she attended Mt. Spokane local high school, where she realized and acknowledged the depth of her connection to her roots. This bond was so strong that she chose to stay local for college, enrolling at Spokane Community College rather than hopping to another state for higher education. 

However, in an interview with UFC, she had once revealed, “I went to a school where the majority of the kids were white, so I’ve always grown up as being the minority. It wasn’t until I moved to Chicago that I got to the area where I was like, ‘My people, finally.’”

The future UFC champion was brought up in the promising lands of the United States, and her parents’ diverse backgrounds played a crucial part in influencing her identity. During her college days, the ‘Venezuelan Vixen’ transitioned into the world of mixed martial arts. Initially a bit overweight, Pena started training in kickboxing primarily to shed the extra pounds and attain good shape.

Fate had other plans for Julianna Pena! As you must have guessed, what started as a weight loss hobby quickly turned into a lifelong passion. Her natural aggression and quick learning ability made the discipline of MMA a perfect fit.  Her progress was so rapid, and she was so dedicated to the sport that it took just one year for ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ to take the leap and make her professional debut at just 20 years of age.

Only two fights in the amateur circuit (both of which) convinced her that she had what it took to become a pro fighter and needed to go all in. And what a start she had to her career! The Spokane native went undefeated in her first four pro fights but faced setbacks, losing her next two in a row.

However, her four wins had come via quick stoppages, which displayed just the kind of fighter she was. Perhaps this is why she was chosen to participate in Season 18 of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’. Pena, of course, won that season and emerged as a UFC star straight away.

Now, after reclaiming her belt by split decision against Raquel Pennington at UFC 307, Pena now stands at another career milestone. She’s set to defend her title against Olympic gold medalist and former PFL champion Kayla Harrison at UFC 316, a clash of titans that promises fireworks. Do you think Julianna Pena’s grit and faith will carry her to a successful title defense? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!