'She wasn't very nice' — Julianna Pena slams Raquel Pennington

EXCLUSIVE: Julianna Pena has opened up about her time on The Ultimate Fighter with Raquel Pennington, claiming the reigning bantamweight champion wasn’t overly kind to her.

‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ will reportedly challenge her rival for championship gold at UFC 307 inside the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Julianna Pena and Raquel Pennington clashed during The Ultimate Fighter

Last week, in the build-up to UFC 304, Pena showcased her caring side, participating at the CSR Activation – Onside Wigan Workout, where she helped a group of young girls learn the ropes of mixed martial arts.

Exuding enthusiasm, she taught her students that the sport doesn’t have to be scary, encouraging them to let loose and have some fun.

The girls smiled from ear-to-ear as they soaked up everything the athlete had to say, and will undoubtedly be watching when the MMA icon fights Pennington for the bantamweight title.

Pena has wanted the opportunity to go head-to-head with her nemesis, since their time together on The Ultimate Fighter. And now she finally has her chance.

In an interview with Sporf, she explained: “I think my fight with Raquel is going to be interesting because she was on the Ultimate Fighter with me. She slept in the bunk bed above me, and she wasn’t very nice. We had a lot of run-ins that were unpleasant. We’re finally gonna put this one to bed, and I’m excited about it.”

Julianna Pena loved passing on her skills

While the 34-year-old is focused on the fight ahead, she still made time to support the girls, revelling in the opportunity to pass on her wisdom to the next generation.

She beamed: “I just want them to be comfortable with mixed martial arts and know that it doesn’t have to be a scary thing. I think the reason why some girls wouldn’t want to do the sport is because it’s a little bit intimidating.

“At the end of the day, I want to help them get familiar with the moves and help them see that it can be a fun thing that’s really exciting if you do it the right way. I don’t want them to be UFC fighters if they don’t wanna be, but I want them to know how to defend themselves.”

For the girls, not just in Wigan, but across the world, Pena is nothing short of an inspiration. No matter the odds stacked against her, she never stops believing in herself. And that admirable quality proved paramount in her bout with Amanda Nunes.

Julianna Pena claims her victory over Amanda Nunes is the biggest upset of all time

Throughout its history, the UFC has produced some incredible upsets. From Michael Bisping triumphing over Luke Rockhold, to Matt Serra emerging victorious against Georges St Pierre, the sport is renowned for giving fans moments that leave them shocked to their core.

But perhaps nothing quite compares to the night Pena defeated ‘The Lioness’. While many counted the challenger out, she never lost faith in her skills, knowing in her heart that she had the minerals to produce possibly the greatest story the sport has ever seen.

She reminisced: “I was an 11/1 underdog. I beat a girl who hadn’t been beaten in seven years. She was somebody who was considered the greatest of all time. So, to be able to put her away like that was great. I told everybody what I was going to do months before the fight, which made it the greatest upset the sport has ever seen.”

Featured Image Credit: UFC