The “Venezuelan Vixen” is throwing her support behind the United States’ recent capture of Nicolas Maduro – and she’s not alone.
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña, whose father was born in Venezuela, has proudly represented both her country of heritage and her birth country, the United States, throughout much of her career.
Tuesday, four days after the U.S.’s strikes on Caracas, Peña posted a lengthy statement in both English and Spanish to her Instagram account, backing President Donald Trump’s decisions.
“Hi my name is Julianna Peña,” Peña wrote. “I’m proud to carry American, Venezuelan, Mexican, and Native American heritage — but in the MMA world, people know me as “The Venezuelan Vixen.” That nickname was given to me by the man who taught me how to fight, as a way to honor my father and his bloodline. When I was a kid, my parents took us to Venezuela. It was beautiful. I loved learning about the history, the culture, and everything that made the country so special.
“There was a time when Venezuela was one of the richest and most promising nations in the world. But over the last 15 years, everything changed. What was once thriving fell into chaos under the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro. Visiting became dangerous, and our family was warned not to return. My relatives have suffered in ways I wouldn’t wish on anyone — real hardship, fear, and loss. Because of that, I fully support what my President and his administration accomplished on January 3rd. I’m hopeful that Venezuela is finally on a path toward freedom and a future that looks more like the country I remember from my childhood. I’m proud to be Venezuelan — whether people accept it or not.”
Venezuela-born fighters rejoyce
Peña wasn’t the only UFC representative of Venezuela to rejoice.
Strawweight Piera Rodriguez, featherweight Alberto Montes, and flyweight Yuneisy Duben also posted celebratory messages to their Instagram account. All three fighters are active UFC fighters and were born in Venezuela.
“God always trust in you,” Duben wrote in Spanish. “Eternally grateful.”
Montes wrote (via Fajador Media), “My parents cried with happiness. I felt a joy that I thought would never come. It is the beginning of a new Venezuela.”
Rodriguez voiced similar sentiments with, “Finally my country will be free after so many years of oppression and pain!!”
What triggered these posts?
The U.S. attack on Venezuela took place in the early hours of the morning Saturday as military personnel took Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, into custody. They extradited them to New York, where they are currently undergoing legal proceedings in Manhattan Federal Court. They pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism charges Monday.
The U.S. action was met with mixed reactions. Some, including many Venezuelans who felt suppressed by Maduro’s reign, celebrated the maneuvers. Others criticized and disavowed the U.S.’s motives and actions. Others expressed both of these sentiments simultaneously.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Former UFC champ fully supports U.S. invasion of Venezuela
