Julianna Pena is the last former UFC champion recruited by Real American Freestyle (RAF). He is booked to perform at RAF Abu Dhabi on November 14 at the Etihad Arena. This is the debut of the RAF in the United Arab Emirates.
Pena faces Diana Avsaragova in a middleweight match.
Pena doesn’t have much of a wrestling record to speak of, either in high school or college wrestling. Although during his MMA career, wrestling has helped him achieve some of the sport’s greatest accomplishments.
His wrestling allowed him to win The ultimate fighter in 2013 as part of Team Tate. It was the first TUF season to ever perform with women. Pena had an inconsistent career after that, though she did earn a title win after submitting Sara McMann at UFC 257 in 2021 (despite going 2-2).
Pena took advantage of her opportunity, however, by submitting Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 with the all-time title. He relinquished the belt six months later, losing a decision to Nunes.
Pena returned to the cage two years later with another title shot. This time he faced his ex TUF teammate Raquel Pennington to 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 via second-round submission to Kayla Harrison.
Avsaragova is also an MMA fighter. He competed in Bellator’s flyweight division and has a 6-2 pro record. He is a former freestyle wrestling bronze medalist at the Russian national level.
