Julianna Peña

Julianna Peña, known to fans as "The Venezuelan Vixen," is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC's women's bantamweight division. Her nickname nods to her father's Venezuelan roots, though she was born and raised in Spokane, Washington.

Peña discovered martial arts through a cardio kickboxing class in her early twenties and quickly transitioned into competitive MMA. She announced herself on a national stage by winning season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2013, becoming the first woman to claim the title in the show's history. She has spent the bulk of her career training out of SikJitsu in Spokane, later adding Valle Flow Striking to sharpen her boxing.

She holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a credential earned under longtime instructors Luiz Claudio and Thiago Veiga that underlines a grappling pedigree built over more than a decade in the gym.

Inside the cage, Peña is defined by relentless forward pressure and a grinding, opportunistic grappling game. She looks to close distance, control opponents against the fence, and hunt for submissions in scrambles, with the omoplata among her signature finishing holds. Her striking is built around a stiff, probing jab that sets up entries for takedowns, and her chin and gas tank have allowed her to push a hard pace deep into fights.

Peña's resume includes submission wins over Cat Zingano and Sara McMann and decision victories over Jessica Eye and Nicco Montano. Her signature win came against Amanda Nunes

Stats last updated: August 18, 2026