Julianna Peña says going to Utah early to prep for UFC 307 pointless: ‘For those who’re in form, you are in form’

Julianna Pena didn’t see a necessity in having to acclimate to Utah’s elevation previous to UFC 307.

Peña (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) plans on arriving to Salt Lake Metropolis Monday for her bantamweight title struggle towards champion Raquel Pennington (16-8 MMA, 13-5 UFC), which co-headlines Saturday’s occasion at Delta Heart (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+).

Peña says after competing in each Utah and Colorado earlier than – that are each identified for his or her excessive elevation, she realized that arriving weeks earlier than is pointless. She is assured in her cardio, and thinks getting there on struggle week is sufficient for her to get adjusted.

“We’re leaving on Monday,” Peña advised MMA Junkie. “I’ve fought in Utah earlier than. I’ve fought in Denver earlier than. I do know that after I went out to Denver three weeks early pondering that the elevation was this gigantic factor that I needed to get ready for, I keep in mind going on the market and after I bought my first cardio session completed, I used to be like, ‘I’m not respiration onerous. Nothing’s modified. What do you imply?’

“My power coach was like, ‘I advised you we didn’t want to return out right here early. For those who’re in form, you’re in form.’ I’ll be there Monday, and I’ll acclimate. I’ll have the entire week to acclimate, and in case you’re in form, you’re in form, and you’ve got completed your work and completed your job, then that’s the arrogance you want. I do know that I’ve that mat time and the entire confidence on this planet so far as ensuring that I’m working onerous, in order that’s all that issues.”

Peña takes on former Season 18 “Final Fighter” castmate Pennington, whom she someway by no means crossed paths with. She gave Pennington credit score, however is assured wherever the struggle goes.

“Her strengths are her power,” Peña stated. “She could be very bodily robust, bought a stable base and really technically sound. I believe that she throws the 1s and 2s very sharp, so that may be her strengths. Her good and crisp punches and her power is a power for her. … I wish to take a look at the pyramid the wrong way up, and there’s not only one strategy to win. I wish to be working from a primary factor and sticking to the fundamentals, permitting it to open up completely different ways in which I can get the job completed.

“So wherever the struggle goes, I’m prepared and I’m assured. I really feel like I can win on the ft. I really feel like I can win on the bottom. I really feel like I can win by submission. I really feel like I can win by resolution. I’ve not closed myself off to 1 particular method or one particular avenue. I wish to go away my mind and my thoughts to successful in a number of alternative ways. No matter presents itself, I’ll have the ability to capitalize on.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 307.