Julianna Pena: Miesha and I are going to fight if either one of us is the champ

We caught up with Julianna Pena during UFC 193 fight week

This Sunday will be pivotal for the future of women’s MMA, as years from now, people will turn back the clock and look at this weekend to be the instance when the women finally silenced the naysayers once and for all.

Not too long ago, there were critics who believed that women had no place in the world of MMA – with Dana White being one of them. In a male dominated sport, the women slowly fought their way in, and in this day and age, the women are just as important as the men.

For instance, UFC’s biggest star and draw is a female – in a short span of 3 years, the women have turned the organization on its head.

This weekend, the main and co-main events will involve women, as Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, the strawweight champion Joanna and the challenger Valerie sold out the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.

Talking about Ronda and Holly, however, not many people think that Holly has the chops to dethrone Ronda Rousey. Recently during the UFC 193 Ultimate Media Day, Julianna Pena, one of the top stars in the bantamweight division shared her thoughts about the paradigm shift in the industry with regards to women, her own quest to win the title and more, in an exclusive interview.

Thoughts on her injury after her career-defining win at TUF 18 finale

That year cost me immensely. That year literally set me back, not just in the fans’ eyes, you know? You’re not there fighting couple of times a year, and they’re going to forget about you. So that time when I was out, killed the momentum I had after winning TUF.

With that said, to come back within a year, after tearing 4 out of 5 ligaments in my knee and to fight on it, I feel like that’s an amazing feat for myself. So, I’m proud, and I can’t wait for my knee to be 110% so that I can go out there and perform to my best ability that I know I can.

Thoughts on if her fight with Shayna was a turning point in her career

Absolutely. Shayna is a big name, and has many wins, and she’s been doing this for a long time. I don’t think anybody in that house thought that I was going to win that fight. To stop her, to make her tap was a huge feat for me, and I think that just kind of solidified the new up and comers, that are a lot hungrier than the girls that’ve been around in the sport before it got big.

Thoughts on her fight with Eye, and if she’d fight Miesha

Oh no, me, and Miesha won’t fight each other. We’re friends, and we kind of have a little bit of an agreement, with terms and stuff like that. We’ll get to that a bit later, but my last performance was – I got the win, I’ll be happy with that, but I know that I can do a lot better, and with the several injuries that I had coming into the fight, I feel they played a big part in why I couldn’t finish. But you know what? You do it again, you go out there and you finish the next time.

About Miesha’s run in with the UFC, and if that is because Ronda has virtually eliminated every opponent in the division

Yeah, I think Miesha had her chances to fight Ronda twice, and I would have loved to see that fight (for the third time), so I’m still scratching my head as to why they didn’t give her the chance. She has picked off anybody else who’s trying to fight Ronda. She’s on a 4 fight winning streak, so I was a little bit confused. I’m still a little bit confused, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles, and I’m sure she’ll get her chance soon.

Her agreement with Miesha

If I have the belt or if she has the belt. That’s when we’ll fight.

Message for the girls who’re getting into MMA because of her, Ronda and the other female fighters

I just want to encourage all those females out there, who want to participate in MMA, to continue following their dreams, and break down the barriers, that women can be beautiful, and they can still be strong at the same time. So, we’re going to need females to come up through the ranks, and to continue to keep the sport going. So, any girl that’s inspired by MMA continues to pursue that, 110%. If I could’ve got a start at an earlier age, I wish I would’ve.

Message for the Indian fans

I’ve never been to India, but I always wanted to go. I love my Indian fans, and just a big huge warm hello, hugs and kisses. Thank you all very much for supporting me, and I love all of you.

You can catch UFC 193 this Sunday at 8:30 IST, live and exclusively on Sony KIX and Sony SIX HD. Tune in for more updates, as we cover UFC 193 live from Melbourne, Australia.