Julianna Pena has spent the last year and a half watching the women’s bantamweight division develop from the sidelines. Pena was pegged to become a star after winning Season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter, but things turned sour for “The Venezuelan Vixen” as she was involved in a rough grappling session with a male sparring partner, that resulted in a serious knee injury and an extended absence.
A lot has happened since Pena last fought, including Ronda Rousey’s amazing title defences against Miesha Tate, Sarah McMann, Alexis Davis and most recently Cat Zingano, but it isn’t Rousey’s in-cage feats that have drawn Pena’s attention, it is her recent comments about Octagon girl, Arianny Celeste.
“I felt it was very out of line for Ronda to single out Arianny for multiple reasons,” Pena told MMAFighting.com. “First off, it’s none of Ronda’s business how much Arianny gets paid. Arianny has been with the company a hell of a lot longer than Ronda has and made the UFC plenty of money and gotten them exposure with things like Maxim, other magazines and TV shows.”
Julianna Pena has come up with a solution to Rousey’s problem with fighters getting paid less than Octagon girls. Pena believes that the champion should use her relationship with UFC brass to improve fighter pay.
“If Ronda is so close with Dana, she should bring up fighter pay to him instead of looking ignorant,” said Pena. “She should just let Arianny do her job and Ronda can do hers. Ring girls and fights go hand in hand and they are an essential part of the show.”
Regardless of Rousey’s opinion of Celeste, Pena remains a fan of the Octagon girl.
“I love Arianny and think she has a beautiful heart,” Pena said. “I stand by her 110 percent.”
Julianna Pena makes her long awaited return at UFC Fight Night : Mendes vs. Lamas on April 4 against Russian grappler Milana Dudieva.