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Pena due to give birth in January, eyes UFC return in late 2018

Troy Taormina / USA TODAY

It'll be awhile before Julianna Pena can even think of getting back in the saddle.

The UFC women's bantamweight contender took to Instagram on Sunday to announce she's expecting her first child, posting a photo of the ultrasound:

@peopleenespanol ran an article on my latest news. Check the magazine out for more details :) ❤️ #HeartFull #BB #BabyPeña ❤️

A post shared by Julianna Nicole Peña (@venezuelanvixen) on

"The Venezuelan Vixen" told MMAmania's Jesse Holland she's already entered her third trimester and expects to give birth to her daughter in January before returning to action in late 2018.

The 28-year-old hasn't stepped foot in the Octagon since falling to Valentina Shevchenko in a title eliminator via second-round submission at UFC on FOX 23 this past January. The defeat marked her first in the Octagon and snapped a four-fight win streak, thereby putting an end to her relentless campaign for a shot at divisional gold.

She prepares for motherhood as the UFC's third-ranked female bantamweight and aims to avenge her loss to Shevchenko in her first fight back.

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