Julianna Pena is the latest former UFC championrecruited by Real American Freestyle (RAF). She has been booked to appear at RAF Abu Dhabi on November 14 at the Etihad Arena. This is RAF’s debut in the United Arab Emirates.
Pena is due to face Diana Avsaragova in a middleweight match-up.
Pena doesn’t have much of a wrestling record to speak of, in either high school or college wrestling. Though, in her MMA career, wrestling has helped her score her biggest achievements in the sport.
Her wrestling enabled
her to win The Ultimate Fighter in 2013, as part of Team Tate. This was the first TUF season to ever feature women. Pena had an inconsistent career after that, though she earned a title shot after submitting Sara McMann at UFC 257 in 2021 (despite being on a 2-2 run).
Pena seized her opportunity, though, submitting Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 in an all-time title upset. She relinquished the belt six months later, losing a decision to Nunes.
Pena returned to the cage two years after that, with another title shot. This time she faced former TUF teammate Raquel Pennington for the vacant belt (vacated after Nunes announced her retirement). Pena won that fight (perhaps one of the worst UFC title fights in history) to become a two-time UFC champion.
Almost a year later, at UFC 316 in June, 2025, Pena lost the title to Kayla Harrison by second round submission.
Avsaragova is also an MMA fighter. She competed in Bellator’s flyweight division and has a 6-2 pro record. She is a former freestyle wrestling bronze medallist at the Russian national level.
