Julianna Peña

Date: 2022-01-27 | Duration: 2h 37m

Episode Overview

Julianna Peña dives deep into her MMA journey, sharing candid stories about overcoming adversity and carving her path to becoming a UFC champion. She reflects on the challenges of being underestimated early in her career, the brutal setbacks from knee injuries, and the mental toughness required to stay in the fight. Julianna also discusses her iconic victory over Amanda Nunes, describing the intense preparation and mindset needed to dethrone a dominant champion. Her insights into fight strategy reveal a fighter who embraces pressure and adapts dynamically, emphasizing the importance of staying active and seizing every opportunity in a sport with a narrow competitive window. Beyond the cage, Peña opens up about balancing motherhood with professional fighting, highlighting the sacrifices and adjustments required to maintain peak performance. She touches on her training evolution, including the decision to leave American Top Team and the impact of different coaches on her development. The conversation also explores her views on the MMA industry, fighter health, and the growing acceptance of alternative therapies like psilocybin and regenerative treatments for recovery. Throughout, Julianna’s blend of humor, resilience, and sharp insight offers a compelling look at the realities of life as a top-level mixed martial artist.

About Julianna Peña

Julianna Peña is a trailblazing mixed martial artist and the reigning UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion, known for her tenacity and skill inside the Octagon. Born on August 19, 1989, in Spokane, Washington, she made history in December 2021 by defeating Amanda Nunes, becoming the first woman to submit the former champion and earning the title in a stunning upset. With a background in wrestling and a fierce competitive spirit, Peña has become a prominent figure in women’s MMA, captivating fans with her dynamic fighting style and inspiring journey. Beyond her athletic prowess, she is also a vocal advocate for women's rights in sports, making her a compelling guest on the Joe Rogan Experience.

Key Moments

– Mixed Martial Arts
– UFC
– Women’s MMA
– Fight Training
– Injuries and Recovery
– Fight Strategy
– MMA Commentary
– MMA Coaching
– Fight Promotions
– MMA Fighters
– Fight Psychology
– MMA History
– Weight Cutting
– MMA Nutrition
– MMA Media
– MMA Rivalries
– MMA Career Development
– MMA Fight Camps
– MMA Techniques
– MMA Fight Analysis
0:00:00 – Introduction to Julianna Peña and MMA background
0:03:32 – Describing fighting style and octagon experiences
0:05:44 – Impact of beating Ronda Rousey on career
0:09:36 – Discussing catastrophic knee injury and recovery
0:11:41 – Challenges with coaching and training dynamics
0:14:46 – Comparing chaotic lives of fighters like Tyson
0:16:16 – Upcoming fight plans and rivalry building
0:19:06 – Personal views on mask-wearing and COVID-19
0:25:26 – Health risks and hospitalizations in MMA
0:27:32 – Use of supplements and therapies for recovery
0:29:55 – Legalization of psilocybin and its potential benefits
0:33:31 – Training locations and career moves
0:35:27 – Relationship with American Top Team and Dan Lambert
0:38:37 – Experiences with tornado warnings and weather
0:41:00 – Safety and crime comparisons between cities
0:44:44 – Weight cutting challenges and fight preparation
0:46:42 – Insights on other MMA organizations and fighters
0:48:41 – Meeting MMA legends and taking selfies
0:51:05 – Discussion on fight tap-outs and resilience
0:54:09 – Amanda Nunes’ power and fight analysis
0:58:39 – Professionalism and peak performance in MMA
1:02:01 – Early career and first UFC fights
1:04:22 – Women’s UFC division development
1:07:57 – Fight camp structure and coaching support
1:10:16 – Sibling influence and personality traits
1:12:14 – Endurance and dexterity in fighting
1:14:43 – Strength and physics in athletic performance
1:18:14 – Training camp routines and fight readiness
1:20:35 – Fight frequency and recovery time
1:22:49 – Advice on staying active after losses
1:24:50 – Weight class flexibility and fight willingness
1:26:40 – Importance of fighters to the sport
1:28:26 – Relationship with UFC and Dana White
1:30:52 – Fight history and future matchups
1:34:35 – First octagon experience and fight memories
1:38:31 – Age considerations and career longevity
1:41:23 – Advances in biologics and recovery technology
1:44:20 – Balancing MMA career and motherhood
1:48:04 – Podcasting and media involvement
1:51:32 – Motivation and excitement for upcoming fights
1:54:44 – Fight analysis and reviewing past bouts
2:01:53 – Bare knuckle fighting and MMA evolution
2:05:58 – Fight judging and crowd influence
2:09:13 – Social challenges during high school and youth
2:12:24 – Comedy aspirations and personality
2:15:04 – Handling confrontation and fight mentality
2:18:30 – Betting on self and confidence in fighting
2:21:04 – Innovative therapies for women’s health
2:27:49 – Parenting and training balance
2:30:36 – Historic upset and fan reactions
2:32:45 – Closing remarks and social media info

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 the joe rogan experience train by day joe rogan podcast by night all day Starting point is 00:00:37 is and it's really complicated and everything. Starting point is 00:00:53 But this guy, Beeple, he's an amazing artist. Starting point is 00:01:22 I can give to like super fans, right? Starting point is 00:01:36 So I think I was going to stick some of that stuff, Starting point is 00:01:49 one of his victories and it's up in my uh studio in la oh nice i gotta bring that over here yeah Starting point is 00:02:28 Yeah. Starting point is 00:02:37 Like, Starting point is 00:02:46 You're very excited Starting point is 00:03:02 It was wild Starting point is 00:03:32 you standing in the middle of octagon and smashing her with a jab it was like Starting point is 00:04:08 That's just the way that my fighting style is. Starting point is 00:04:29 going to have to meet this fire, and you absolutely cannot shy away from it. Well, you said it leading Starting point is 00:05:07 and i was like that was my fight she's the champ said that i was next and so ronda came in she got Starting point is 00:05:32 Because she's a legend by then. Starting point is 00:05:44 When she knocked her out in 48 seconds, everybody was like, holy fuck. You know? a vicious knockout artist, but beating Ronda the way she did put her on the world map. Right. Starting point is 00:06:01 just knocking people out Starting point is 00:06:43 It was like it almost made me feel guilty in a sense. I'm like, really? Yeah. My dad lost 15 pounds. Like this guy's throwing up, Starting point is 00:07:12 That's hilarious. Starting point is 00:07:26 The world goes away. Starting point is 00:07:45 You were counted out by so many people. Starting point is 00:08:14 And people were upset about me like, oh yeah, you can't do this and you can't do that. Set some Starting point is 00:08:44 You know, a lot of people never find the groove. Starting point is 00:09:00 everyone wants to seek comfort. Starting p...

Read the full transcript

More Episodes

Frequently asked about this episode

Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #10118?

Julianna Peña was the guest on JRE #10118. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #10118?

On Joe Rogan Experience #10118 with Julianna Peña, topics include Mixed Martial Arts, Women’s MMA, Fight Training, and Injuries and Recovery.

Where can I read the transcript for JRE #10118?

The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #10118 with Julianna Peña is on the dedicated transcript page for this episode, with timestamps and in-page search.