Feeling nervous before a fight or commentating is something normal for Julianna Peña
August 1, 2020
Whether it is inside the cage or on the mic, Combate Americas commentator Julianna Peña feels the nerves.
Max Bretos and the Venezuelan Vixen tag team to call all the English action inside la Jauala, the cage. She has been a commentator with the promotion since 2016.
FIRST TIME
“The first time I met (CEO of Combate Americas) Campbell McLaren he sat me down and he is like ‘you have no idea how long I’ve been trying to get a hold of you,’” she said.
Furthermore, she elaborated, “…Then I realized I had the wrong number the whole time. I’ve been wanting you to be my announcer.”
THE NERVES
In 2013, she becaome the first woman to win the Ultimate Fighter, a mixed martial arts competition.
Although she is familiar with the cameras and light, she said every fight she announces she feels the nerves and anxiety. She recalled the first time she worked the first event.
“I was extremely nervous,” she said. “I remember referee Herb Dean making a call that I didn’t agree with and I forgot my mic was on and I was like ‘what the…’”
STILL LEARNING
Broadcasting is in her blood. Her older sister obtained a broadcast journalist degree and was a meteorologist. Peña has received pointers from her.
“She tells me to speak slowly, not to be in a rush,” she said.
The mixed martial artist, who is awaiting a fight, says she is looking forward to commentating more when her fighting career comes to an end.
No date has been set for her next fight, but she is training and waiting for the phone call to return to action.
