“Lion” Julianna Pena delivers epic promo as she eyes UFC gold

Julianna Pena is currently on quite the win streak in the UFC’s women’s bantamweight division, winning four straight fights, three of which coming since she made her return to the Octagon following an injury layoff from 2013-2015. Most recently, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ competed at UFC 200, where she picked up a dominant unanimous decision win over Cat Zingano.

While the win cemented Pena’s place near the top of the UFC’s bantamweight division on the UFC’s official rankings, Pena is currently slated for a bantamweight #1 contender fight against Valentina Shevchenko at ‘UFC Fight Night: Denver’ on January 28th. Going into the fight, it’s no secret that the winner could very well see themselves earn a title fight with women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes.

While Pena was doing her best to secure a fight with Ronda Rousey when it was announced that Rousey would be returning to the Octagon, ultimately Rousey stepped into the Octagon to fight Nunes at UFC 207 in a fight she lost in just 48 seconds.

Now, with Pena on the cusp of a title shot, she believes she is hungrier than the champ, and looks to prove it in the new year.

She spoke on SiriusXM’s Rush:

“I predicted from the very beginning that Amanda was gonna knock Ronda Rousey out and it turned out that I was right. I think that I hit the nail on the head. So congratulations to Amanda Nunes but I also know that the opponent I’m about to face has already faced her and gave her a hell of a war too so she’s not untouchable and every dog has its day.

“The lion climbing the hill is a lot more hungrier than a lion that sits on top of the hill, and I’m definitely a lion in my own right. I was born on Aug. 19th at 11:11 AM and I was bound for greatness. I am true Leo lion and I spit fire morning, noon, and night, and I’m not gonna stop until I get what’s rightfully mine.”

on 1/11/2017.