Julianna Pena cleared to resume UFC career following assault allegations

The UFC today announced it has completed an investigation into allegations of assault by women’s bantamweight Julianna Pena and reinstated “The Ultimate Fighter 18” winner, freeing her to resume her professional career.

The 26-year-old fighter reportedly volunteered to undergo counseling as a condition of her return.

“Pena acknowledges that her actions as a professional athlete should reflect well of her, the sport of mixed martial arts, and the UFC,” the promotion said in a prepared statement.

The decision comes less than a month after Pena reached an agreement with Spokane (Wa.) city prosecutor’s office, which handled her case after she was charged with two counts of assault following an alleged bar brawl this past December.

Pena (7-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) on March 22 was granted a stipulation of continuance, which means the charges will be dropped within one year if she doesn’t have any more run-ins with the law, Spokane City Prosecutor Justin Bingham told MMAjunkie.

“It’s a fairly standard plea offer that we give to people that have limited or no criminal history, which is certainly what she has,” Bingham said.

Pena reportedly kicked two bouncers in the groin after she and a training partner, Joshua Gow, were kicked out of the Zola bar in downtown Spokane.

In bodycam footage of her arrest, a visibly intoxicated Pena and Gow claimed they went to the Zola bar, at which they previously had been drinking, after they were involved in a street brawl that left Gow injured. But when the bouncers allegedly told Pena she and not Gow could use the bar’s bathroom to clean up, a scuffle broke out and police were called. Gow reportedly smeared his bloody face on the bar’s window before he and Pena left the scene.

Pena was arrested and charged with two counts of simple assault. She spent about 12 hours in jail before posting bond. She faced up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine before her deal with the city prosecutor’s office.

Pena’s longtime teammate, Michael Chiesa, stepped to her defense and said she would return to the cage stronger than ever. Pena later told Submission Radio a settlement had been reached with prosecutors and welcomed fights with all top women’s bantamweights.

While community service and treatment programs are often ordered for assault cases, Pena escaped with no additional requirements from the state beyond staying out of trouble. In this case, it’s the UFC that ordered additional measures for her to be reinstated.

Pena’s case was investigated by the law firm Campbell and Williams, which frequently litigates on the industry leader’s behalf.

“UFC elected not to schedule Pena for a bout while the legal proceedings were ongoing,” the UFC’s statement read. “Now that the matter has been resolved, Pena is eligible to return to competition in the UFC and will be scheduled for a bout in the near future.”

Pena most recently fought in the UFC this past October at UFC 192, where she outpointed Jessica Eye and then called out now-former women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.