Two female sports stars join forces ahead of RAF Abu Dhabi debut.
Dubai: Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña experienced the thrill of high-speed motorsport on Friday, joining Emirati racing driver Amna Al Qubaisi for a lap around Yas Marina Circuit ahead of her Real American Freestyle (RAF) debut in Abu Dhabi.
Peña traded the intensity of combat sports for the passenger seat of a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, with Al Qubaisi behind the wheel for a high-speed drive around the iconic Formula One circuit.
The meeting brought together two leading female athletes from different sporting disciplines, as Al Qubaisi demonstrated her driving skills while Peña experienced the G-forces of a high-performance racing car.
For the American fighter, the ride proved memorable and gave her an extra boost of motivation ahead of her bout at Etihad Arena.
“This was an amazing experience – a dream come true,” Peña said.
“And to see Amna in her glory and the G-forces, it was incredible. It definitely gives me motivation to win on Saturday night!”
Al Qubaisi, one of the UAE’s leading female motorsport talents, said she enjoyed introducing the former UFC champion to the circuit.
“It was so much fun having Julianna in the car and showing her what it feels like on the track,” she said.
“We come from different sports, but we share the same passion for competition and pushing our limits. It’s always great to see women succeeding in sport, and I hope she enjoyed the ride as much as I did. I’m wishing her all the best for her RAF debut in Abu Dhabi!”
The experience came ahead of a big night for Peña, who is set to face Diana Avsaragova in a women’s middleweight crossover bout as RAF makes its Middle East debut in the UAE capital.
The former UFC champion is among the headline names on a card featuring established wrestlers and mixed martial artists.
The event will be headlined by UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev taking on former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman for the RAF Light Heavyweight Crossover Championship.
Arman Tsarukyan, Neiman Gracie and Urijah Faber are also among the prominent names set to feature on the card.
For Al Qubaisi, the meeting offered another opportunity to showcase the growing presence of Emirati women in international sport. She has established herself as one of the UAE’s leading motorsport talents, while Peña will be looking to make a winning start to RAF’s new chapter in Abu Dhabi.
