Outside Source
On Saturday, Donald Trump announced that the U.S. had conducted a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela, capturing president Nicolas Maduro and his wife. The attack has generated mixed reactions throughout the U.S., but many people of Venezuelan heritage have celebrated Maduro’s capture. That includes former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Pena, who goes by “The Venezuelan Vixen” in the Octagon. Though Pena was born in Washington, her father hails from Venezuela.
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On Tuesday, Pena released a statement supporting President Trump and the attack on Venezuela.
A Path Toward Freedom
“Hi my name is Julianna Peña,” Peña wrote on Instagram. “I’m proud to carry American, Venezuelan, Mexican, and Native American heritage — but in the MMA world, people know me as “The Venezuelan Vixen.” That nickname was given to me by the man who taught me how to fight, as a way to honor my father and his bloodline. When I was a kid, my parents took us to Venezuela. It was beautiful. I loved learning about the history, the culture, and everything that made the country so special.
“There was a time when Venezuela was one of the richest and most promising nations in the world. But over the last 15 years, everything changed. What was once thriving fell into chaos under the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro. Visiting became dangerous, and our family was warned not to return. My relatives have suffered in ways I wouldn’t wish on anyone — real hardship, fear, and loss. Because of that, I fully support what my President and his administration accomplished on January 3rd. I’m hopeful that Venezuela is finally on a path toward freedom and a future that looks more like the country I remember from my childhood. I’m proud to be Venezuelan — whether people accept it or not.”
Venezuelan UFC fighters Piera Rodriguez, Alberto Montes, and Yuneisy Duben also expressed happiness over the situation on their social media accounts.
Pena, who competed on Season 18 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” secured one of the biggest upsets in UFC history when she submitted Amanda Nunes in the second round at UFC 269 to become bantamweight champion in December 2021. Pena would lose to Nunes in their rematch but regained the 135-pound strap by taking a split verdict over Raquel Pennington at UFC 307. The 36-year-old Sikjitsu representative relinquished the belt to Kayla Harrison via second-round submission in her most recent outing at UFC 316 this past June. Pena does not currently have another fight booked.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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