Former two-time UFC champion Julianna Peña is officially returning to active competition, though her upcoming test will take place on the wrestling mats rather than inside the Octagon.
Real American Freestyle announced on Monday that Peña is scheduled to make her promotional debut at the upcoming RAF Abu Dhabi event, which is set to take place on November 14 at the Etihad Arena. In her first combat sports appearance in 17 months, "The Venezuelan Vixen" will step into a middleweight matchup against fellow combat sports veteran Diana Avsaragova.
For Peña, the bout marks an intriguing pivot from mixed martial arts to the freestyle wrestling stage. Her most recent competitive outing occurred in June 2025 at UFC 316, where she suffered a second-round submission defeat to Kayla Harrison, losing the UFC bantamweight title in the process. Since that championship clash, Peña has remained close to the combat sports world and has served as a color commentator for Real American Freestyle since the organization’s inception. Transitioning from the commentary desk to active competition adds a fresh layer of intrigue to the November card, presenting a completely different physical challenge for the decorated MMA veteran.
Her opponent, Diana Avsaragova, is looking to bounce back and secure her first victory under the RAF banner. Avsaragova will be making her second appearance for the promotion following a tough technical fall loss to RAF middleweight champion Kennedy Blades at RAF 13 this past September. With extensive veteran experience from her previous runs in major MMA organizations like Bellator and the Professional Fighters League (PFL), Avsaragova possesses the high-level grappling pedigree and competitive background necessary to test Peña immediately upon her promotional arrival.
The upcoming RAF Abu Dhabi card features a deep and compelling lineup of elite combatants across multiple weight classes, blending top-tier freestyle wrestling talent with crossover stars from the broader combat sports landscape. Among the other notable matchups officially announced for the event is a high-stakes light heavyweight showdown featuring Abdulrashid Sadulaev squaring off against Dauren Kurugliev. In another compelling light heavyweight clash, Osama Elsaidy is set to lock horns with Murtaza Talha.
The card also highlights a major cruiserweight contest between standout grappler Zahid Valencia and Khidir Saipudinov, as well as an intriguing lightweight tilt showcasing Hamza Kooheji against Ali AlQaisi. Each of these contests adds significant depth to an international event designed to showcase elite grappling skill sets on a major global stage.
RAF Abu Dhabi will be anchored by a massive main event featuring a high-profile crossover title fight. Former UFC interim welterweight challenger and standout wrestler Colby Covington is scheduled to face off against undefeated elite grappler and top-tier MMA star Khamzat Chimaev in a high-stakes battle for the promotion’s cruiserweight crossover title. The headliner promises to draw immense attention from the global combat sports community, providing a dramatic backdrop for the entire evening of competition at the Etihad Arena.
