Julianna Pena Ends 17-Month Layoff — On the Wrestling Mat

Julianna Pena is competing again. Just not in a cage. Real American Freestyle announced Monday that the former two-time UFC bantamweight champion will make her wrestling debut at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14, facing Diana Avsaragova in a middleweight matchup at Etihad Arena.

It's the first time "The Venezuelan Vixen" has stepped into competition in 17 months. Her last appearance was a second-round submission loss to Kayla Harrison at UFC 316 in June 2025, a night that stripped her of the belt she'd reclaimed earlier in that title run. Since RAF launched, Pena has worked the broadcast desk as a color commentator — now she's trading the headset for a singlet.

The move isn't as random as it sounds. Pena's base has always been grappling, and freestyle wrestling is a logical proving ground for a fighter who built her UFC identity on scrambles and submissions. Avsaragova, a veteran of both Bellator and PFL, makes her second RAF appearance after dropping a tech fall to RAF middleweight champ Kennedy Blades at RAF 13 in September. So neither woman arrives on a high.

A Stacked Crossover Card

RAF Abu Dhabi isn't a quiet showcase. The card is headlined by Colby Covington against Khamzat Chimaev for the promotion's cruiserweight crossover title — a pairing that drags two combat-sports names onto the mat. Covington, for reference, sits at 17-5 in the UFC and is coming off a doctor's-stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley.

The undercard leans heavily on decorated wrestlers. Abdulrashid Sadulaev meets Dauren Kurugliev, Osama Elsaidy takes on Murtaza Talha at light heavyweight, Zahid Valencia faces Khidir Saipudinov at cruiserweight, and Hamza Kooheji squares off with Ali AlQaisi at lightweight. It's a deliberate blend of pure wrestling pedigree and MMA crossover star power.

For Pena, the stakes are different than a title fight. There's no belt, no ranking on the line — just a chance to stay sharp, stay visible, and test herself in the discipline that underpinned her best UFC performances. Whether this is a one-off or a genuine second act, she'll be back in front of a crowd on Nov. 14, and that's more than she's had in well over a year.