Pena Injured, Bounced From UFC Columbus

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women’s bantamweight title contender and full-time mom, Julianna Pena, suffered an undisclosed injury and was forced to withdraw from her Aspen Ladd fight, scheduled for March 28 inside Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Bummer.

The promotion will not search for a replacement for their ESPN showdown and will instead wait for “Venezuelan Vixen” to heal up, according to MMA Junkie. I would assume the injury is not that serious if Ladd is going to return to the bench and wait this one out, but that’s just speculation at this time.

After more than two years on the sidelines, Pena (9-3) made her Octagon return at UFC Sacramento last July, taking home a unanimous decision win over former flyweight champion, Nicco Montano.

Her only loss under the UFC banner came at the hands of Valentina Shevchenko at UFC on FOX 23. Pena, who also captured the glass trophy on season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), is currently ranked No. 4 at 135 pounds.

For the rest of the UFC Columbus fight card and line up click here.