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RAF picks up another former UFC champ, Julianna Pena to debut in Abu Dhabi

Real American Freestyle (RAF) continues its expansion by signing former UFC middleweight champion Julianna Peña, who will make her promotional debut at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on November 14. Peña, a two-time UFC titleholder, will face Diana Avsaragova in a middleweight bout, marking RAF’s first event in the United Arab Emirates.

Peña’s wrestling background proved pivotal in her MMA career, helping her win *The Ultimate Fighter* in 2013—the first women’s season—and later secure back-to-back UFC championships, including a historic upset submission victory over Amanda Nunes in 2021. Though her pro record outside those title wins was uneven, Peña’s technical foundation remained a key factor in her success, even as she faced setbacks in later title defenses, most recently losing to Kayla Harrison in June 2025.

Avsaragova, a former Bellator flyweight competitor with a 6-2 record, brings her own MMA experience to the matchup, while her background as a Russian national freestyle wrestling bronze medalist adds another layer of technical contrast to the bout.

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