Julianna Pena pulled off one of the biggest upsets MMA has ever seen as she submitted Amanda Nunes in the second round of their bantamweight title fight at UFC 269 in Las Vegas.
Heading into the co-main event at the T-Mobile Arena, two-weight champion Nunes was the overwhelming favorite to steam through yet another helpless victim and retain the 135lbs title she has held for more than five years.
But Pena flipped the narrative on its head, weathering pressure from Nunes in the first round – during which the Brazilian was even caught smiling – before finding success on the feet with some heavy shots in the second.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a combo.<br><br>Never expected Pena over Nunes in a million years. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC269?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC269</a> <a href="https://t.co/pDx0lPtAMN">pic.twitter.com/pDx0lPtAMN</a></p>— Cody FN Powers (@NaturdayDelight) <a href="https://twitter.com/NaturdayDelight/status/1469898402368471048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
Pena herself was forced to eat some big punches from Nunes but pressed forward as the defending champion visibly wilted.
The Venezuelan Vixen sensed her chance, securing a takedown before locking in a rear-naked choke to become the first woman in more than seven years to hand Nunes a defeat inside the Octagon.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC269?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC269</a> Julianna Peña after submission on Amanda Nunes to the ring doc/commish…”I won?” <a href="https://t.co/6J3c3UPwNA">pic.twitter.com/6J3c3UPwNA</a></p>— Artie Schweitzer (@ArtieSchweitzer) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArtieSchweitzer/status/1469897360436342787?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
“I’m not surprised motherf*ckers!” Pena shouted in her post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
“I told you. Don’t ever doubt me again. Willpower, strength and determination. It will take you places. I definitely expected a win and the world is my oyster.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Julianna Pena celebrating win against Amanda Nunes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ufc269?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ufc269</a> <a href="https://t.co/vUibweevjU">pic.twitter.com/vUibweevjU</a></p>— BroBible (@BroBible) <a href="https://twitter.com/BroBible/status/1469895955319193600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
The reaction at the T-Mobile Arena and online was one of astonishment, with many calling it one of the biggest – if not the biggest – shocks in UFC history.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">These reactions to Julianna Pena's win over Amanda Nunes 😳 <a href="https://twitter.com/espnmma?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espnmma</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC269?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC269</a> <a href="https://t.co/z14Zrp5Xp7">pic.twitter.com/z14Zrp5Xp7</a></p>— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1469897491579613187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The biggest upset in UFC 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘! <a href="https://twitter.com/VenezuelanVixen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VenezuelanVixen</a> is the NEW UFC BW champion 👑 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC269?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC269</a> <a href="https://t.co/5nxFJQP44a">pic.twitter.com/5nxFJQP44a</a></p>— UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1469896022382026758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Remember where you are, because this is a moment that will be talked about 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC269?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC269</a></p>— UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1469898220658585600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wooooooooooow!!! What did I just watch?? Peñaaaaaaaa!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC269?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC269</a></p>— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) <a href="https://twitter.com/USMAN84kg/status/1469895240328830976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!! NEVER FORGET THAT!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC269?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC269</a>!</p>— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/funkmasterMMA/status/1469895873064693763?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PENA ISN’T EVEN CELEBRATING. SHE IS STONE COLD. THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST UPSETS IN UFC HISTORY. NUNES WAS A -1100.</p>— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) <a href="https://twitter.com/arielhelwani/status/1469895233546690560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
Pena, 32, is a former champion on the Ultimate Fighter reality TV series but saw her career stall with injury problems.