LAS VEGAS — Julianna Peña pulled off an upset over Amanda Nunes in the 2nd round of the co-main event in UFC 269 for the women's Bantamweight title.
The Spokane native is the first fighter to hold the title since July of 2016 when Nunes first took the title from Miesha Tate.
The win is a major upset as sports betting odds had Peña's chances to win at +650. Marking the 2nd biggest women's title fight upset in UFC history. Behind Holly Holm's upset of Ronda Rousey.
After winning the Bantamweight title Peña, reflected on her achievement
"Nothing was going to stop me from getting this belt. This has been 13 years of grinding and its finally come to fruition and it's my time," she said.
In an interview with KREM 2's Mark Hanrahan, Peña said that she had no doubts going into the match against Nunes despite what her critics had to say.
"People want to put me in a box and that's fine," Peña said. "Everyone was sleeping on me...there's no such thing as underdogs. If you got two girls who are willing to fight on paper and willing to fight in the octagon, you've got a fight."
When asked about her ties to Spokane, Peña proclaimed that she was "loyal to the soil" and that the Pacific Northwest helps develop some of the best fighters in the world.
"I'll never forget where I'm from," Peña said. "I'll never shy away from the fact that I'm from the 509. I rep 509 in my blood until the day I die."
When asked about the possibility of a rematch with Nunes, Peña welcomes the idea. For now, however, she wants to "bask in the moment" and "enjoy her belt."
Regarding her status as role model to little girls, Peña asserted that she wants to be a role model to everyone trying to achieve their goals.
"I don't want to exclude anybody," Peña said. "If you want something, if you are passionate about something, if you show an extreme interest in something and somebody tells you no, it is your job to quiet their mouths, to put your head down, to work silently and work hard. No one is going to give you anything in this life. You have to go out there and get it."