Julianna Pena didn’t see a need in having to acclimate to Utah’s elevation prior to UFC 307.
Peña (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) plans on arriving to Salt Lake City Monday for her bantamweight title fight against champion Raquel Pennington (16-8 MMA, 13-5 UFC), which co-headlines Saturday’s event at Delta Center (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+).
Peña says after competing in both Utah and Colorado before – which are both known for their high elevation, she realized that arriving weeks before is unnecessary. She is confident in her cardio, and thinks getting there on fight week is enough for her to get adjusted.
“We are leaving on Monday,” Peña told MMA Junkie. “I have fought in Utah before. I have fought in Denver before. I know that when I went out to Denver three weeks early thinking that the elevation was this gigantic thing that I had to get prepared for, I remember going out there and after I got my first cardio session done, I was like, ‘I’m not breathing hard. Nothing’s changed. What do you mean?’
“My strength coach was like, ‘I told you we didn’t need to come out here early. If you’re in shape, you’re in shape.’ I’ll be there Monday, and I’ll acclimate. I’ll have the whole week to acclimate, and if you’re in shape, you’re in shape, and you have done your work and done your job, then that’s the confidence you need. I know that I have that mat time and all of the confidence in the world as far as making sure that I’m working hard, so that’s all that matters.”
Peña takes on former Season 18 “Ultimate Fighter” castmate Pennington, whom she somehow never crossed paths with. She gave Pennington credit, but is confident wherever the fight goes.
“Her strengths are her strength,” Peña said. “She is very physically strong, got a solid base and very technically sound. I think that she throws the 1s and 2s very sharp, so that would be her strengths. Her nice and crisp punches and her strength is a strength for her. … I want to look at the pyramid upside down, and there’s not just one way to win. I want to be working from a basic thing and sticking to the basics, allowing it to open up different ways that I can get the job done.
“So wherever the fight goes, I’m ready and I’m confident. I feel like I can win on the feet. I feel like I can win on the ground. I feel like I can win by submission. I feel like I can win by decision. I have not closed myself off to one specific way or one specific avenue. I want to leave my brain and my mind to winning in several different ways. Whatever presents itself, I’ll be able to capitalize on.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.
