Julianna Pena wants a title shot, says UFC is waiting on 'Princess Royal Ronda'

No. 5 ranked Julianna Pena is not willing to settle for anything less than the title or a shot at Ronda Rousey. She says she is willing to wait.

Julianna Pena was a guest on The MMA Hour hosted by Ariel Helwani Monday afternoon and she spoke with Helwani about her future in the UFC and who she would like to fight next. Pena was very outspoken in her desire to “introduce (Ronda Rousey) back into the division.”

Pena was adamant that she was deserving of a title shot and that any other options besides Nunes or Rousey would be “an insult” to her. Pena is currently ranked fifth in the UFC’s women’s bantamweight division.

Before the Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm fight that took place at UFC 193 in Melbourne Australia, Pena would have been next in line for a title shot if Rousey would have won that fight. Pena feels as if she is getting the raw end of the deal by not having the next shot at champion Amanda Nunes.

“I am the best fighter out there right now, I’m the best in the division,” she said strongly. Pena was asked about the rumored fight that was supposedly trashed between herself and No. 3 ranked Valentina Shevchenko. Shevchenko had called out Pena saying that she was “escaping” and that she was scared to step into the octagon with her. She responded to this supposed fight by saying “Who is that? What has she done in the division?” Pena is willing to wait for a shot at the title, but she would take a fight with Rousey upon her return.

She went on to say that the UFC “knows what I want, they are waiting on princess royal Ronda to decide.” Pena said that she is not jumping until Ronda jumps, and if that means sitting out for a length of time then she is willing to do that. Pena noted that “Ronda has been avoiding me since day one, and that (all the top girls) don’t want to fight me.”

Pena’s last fight was a win over former title contender Cat Zingano at UFC 200. She was a cast mate on The Ultimate Fighter Season 18 in which Ronda Rousey was the opposing coach. These two fighters have had bad blood since that show was filmed, and Julianna has been waiting for a shot at the former champ.