Pena (photo via FOX SPORTS 2)

By FCF Staff

Julianna Pena’s upcoming bout with Cat Zingano won’t deliver her any championship gold if she wins it, but for the former TUF winner, it’s a title fight nonetheless.

The bantamweight contenders are scheduled to fight at UFC 200 next Saturday, which will go down at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While talking about the pivotal fight recently, Pena had this to say (quote via UFC.com):

“The reason I say it’s like a title fight to me is because she (Zingano) beat the champ (Miesha Tate) right now and she’s beaten the current champ’s opponent (Amanda Nunes),” Pena said. “So, this girl’s the toughest girl on the roster and she’s coming off a loss against Ronda (Rousey) and people usually come off a loss a lot smarter and a lot tougher, so I’m looking at her and at this fight like it is a championship fight. She’s very dangerous and she’s going to be the toughest fight that I’ve ever had.”

Zingano stopped Tate in 2013, and in her next bout, “Alpha” took out Nunes. Tate will try to defend the bantamweight title versus Nunes at UFC 200. Pena, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since October, when she decisioned Jessica Eye.

Zingano (9-1) is currently ranked #3 in the 135 division and Pena (7-2) is sitting in the #5 spot.