Back in 2013, no one expected a newcomer with a kickboxing background,  Julianna Pena, to submit former WWE star Shayna Baszler in their MMA fight on The Ultimate Fighter 18. However, with her impressive skills, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ turned the analysts’ predictions upside down by securing a rear-naked choke on Baszler after taking the fight to the ground. This victory earned her the title of TUF 18 women’s bantamweight champion and a ticket to the UFC.

Now, over a decade later, Julianna Pena’s journey continues with a solid record of 12-5-0. One of her biggest successes was submitting her fiercest rival Amanda Nunes with a rear-naked choke. However, in a rematch a few months later, Nunes avenged her defeat. Since then, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ has been out of the game, planning for a comeback. While there’s plenty to discuss about Pena’s MMA career, there’s much less known about her personal life, including her parents and siblings.

Meet Ernie Pena, Julianna Pena’s father

Julianna Pena is the youngest child of Pamela and Ernie Pena, who come from a multiracial (father from Venezuela and mother from Mexico) background. Her father works a blue-collar job and is a respected member of Local 242 in Washington, a union that advocates for worker’s rights and safety. Julianna decided to dedicate her career to fighting, a choice that initially raised eyebrows, particularly from her father. As the youngest and favorite child, he was reluctant to see his daughter get punched in the face.

However, during a candid interview, Pena reflected, “At first they were very hesitant because I’m the baby of four and my dad didn’t like seeing his baby girl get punched in the face. Once they saw how dedicated I was and passionate, I became with MMA, they jumped on board and have supported me wholeheartedly. I’m glad to have changed their minds.” While many fans were unaware, the moniker ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ is inspired by her father’s ethnicity, a name given to her by her coach when she enrolled in MMA.

Since then, Julianna Pena has grown closer to her father and is grateful for his support during her toughest career choices. Further, if you want to know more about Pena’s mother, scroll down the article.

Who is Julianna Pena’s mother?

Just like her father, Julianna Pena shares a strong relationship with her mother, Ernie Peña, who never imagined that the baby she almost lost giving birth to on August 19, 1989, would one day rule the world’s biggest women’s MMA promotion. Julianna often expresses her love for her mother on social media, especially on Mother’s Day, when she wrote, “Happy Mother’s Day Mommy! @ppena5 You are the best Mom to me and all your children! Thank you for giving me life! I know it almost killed you, literally, but I am so grateful to be your baby, your last born, and your favorite child 😉 I love you so, so much with all my heart.”

‘The Venezuelan Vixen’s’ mother is also the reason Julianna was inclined toward Latino culture through her language and food—a fact she acknowledged in a candid interview back in 2016, where she said, “I connect with my culture. Every week, we have family dinner at my brother’s house, where it’s all sorts of Mexican food because my mother is Mexican. She makes some really good enchiladas.” Even in raising the champion, Julianna Pena credits much of her success to her mother and father. Her siblings also played a significant role in her life, influencing her biggest decisions, a fact she acknowledged years ago.

How many siblings does Julianna Pena have? Who are they?

Julianna Pena’s parents have three other kids: Grace Bach, Jocelynn Sleida, and a brother whose name is not in the public domain. This leads to the belief that her sisters have had a bigger impact on her life than her brother. ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ has openly acknowledged that she was drawn to MMA due to her sisters’ encouragement. When a reporter once asked her, “How did you get started in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)?”, Peña disclosed, “My sister had invited me to a women’s cardio kickboxing class to lose some weight. It was love at first punch. I haven’t looked back since. I started to stay for the MMA classes afterward and learned the whole game.”

Even with her busy MMA schedule as a fighter and mother, Peña always makes time to hang out with her sisters. Additionally, just because Julianna doesn’t post pictures with her brother doesn’t mean they aren’t close; that’s a misconception. In fact, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ and her family gather at her brother’s house for dinner every week for a Mexican food fest—a tradition that is still ongoing in Peña’s family.

Now, all eyes are on the upcoming UFC 307, where top-ranked contender Julianna Pena will try to dethrone the reigning women’s bantamweight champion, Raquel Pennington, in their co-main event fight. Who will you be rooting for, Pena or Pennington? Drop your opinion below.