TLDR
- Former UFC champion Julianna Peña will make her wrestling debut at RAF Abu Dhabi on November 14
- Peña will face Diana Avsaragova in a middleweight wrestling match at Etihad Arena
- This marks Peña’s first competitive appearance in 17 months since losing her UFC title to Kayla Harrison
- Peña has been working as a color commentator for RAF since the promotion launched
- The event is headlined by a cruiserweight crossover title match between Colby Covington and Khamzat Chimaev
Sources: middleeasy.com | mymmanews.com
Former two-time UFC bantamweight champion Julianna Peña will return to competition in a new sport when she makes her wrestling debut on November 14. Real American Freestyle announced Monday that Peña will face Diana Avsaragova in a middleweight match at RAF Abu Dhabi.
The event will take place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. This will be Peña’s first competitive combat sports appearance in 17 months.
Julianna Pena set for combat sports return after 17-month layoff https://t.co/5pN66kpmRh
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) October 12, 2026
From UFC Champion to Wrestling Competitor
Peña’s last fight came at UFC 316 in June 2025. She lost her UFC bantamweight championship to Kayla Harrison by submission in the second round.
Known as “The Venezuelan Vixen,” Peña has stayed involved with Real American Freestyle since the promotion started. She has worked as a color commentator for RAF events before deciding to compete.
Peña will now leave the broadcast booth to step onto the wrestling mat for her promotional debut. The former UFC champion is making a complete transition from mixed martial arts to freestyle wrestling.
Avsaragova brings experience from both Bellator and the Professional Fighters League. She previously competed at RAF 13 in September, where she lost by technical fall to Kennedy Blades, the current RAF middleweight champion.
This will be Avsaragova’s second appearance with the Real American Freestyle promotion. She faces a UFC champion making her first wrestling appearance.
Stacked Card Features Multiple Matches
The RAF Abu Dhabi event includes several other wrestling matches across different weight classes. Abdulrashid Sudulaev will compete against Dauren Kurugliev in a light heavyweight bout.
Osama Elsaidy is scheduled to face Murtaza Talha in another light heavyweight match. Zahid Valencia will meet Khidir Saipudinov in the cruiserweight division.
Hamza Kooheji and Ali AlQaisi are set to compete at lightweight. These matches will fill out the undercard for the international event.
The main event features a cruiserweight crossover title fight between Colby Covington and Khamzat Chimaev. Both fighters are known for their UFC careers and will compete for a wrestling championship.
Peña’s move to wrestling represents a complete shift in her combat sports career. She won the UFC bantamweight title twice during her mixed martial arts career.
Her first title win came against Amanda Nunes in December 2021, considered one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. She later regained the title before losing it to Harrison in 2025.
The former champion has been out of competition since that loss. Her 17-month absence from any competitive fighting ends when she faces Avsaragova in Abu Dhabi.
Peña joins a growing list of mixed martial arts fighters who have transitioned to wrestling. Real American Freestyle has attracted several former UFC competitors since launching.
The promotion combines traditional freestyle wrestling with crossover appeal for MMA fans. RAF events have featured both wrestling specialists and fighters from other combat sports.
The November 14 event marks RAF’s first show in Abu Dhabi. The promotion has previously held events in various United States cities.
Ticket information and broadcast details for RAF Abu Dhabi have not been announced. The event will feature both the Peña-Avsaragova middleweight match and the Covington-Chimaev cruiserweight title fight as main attractions.
