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Dana White calls for Julianna Pena to leave her gym following severe knee injury

Dana White is placing the blame for Julianna Pena's injury at the feet of her gym.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Spor

Julianna Pena is going to be sidelined for a long time after suffering a traumatic knee injury in training. Pena, the first ever female Ultimate Fighter winner, suffered a torn MCL, ACL, LCL, meniscus and hamstring, forcing her out of her UFC 171 bout.

The injury came while Pena was grappling with a male teammate at her gym, something that seems to have UFC president Dana White extremely upset:

Rick Little, owner of Sik-Jitsu Fighting Systems, which houses Pena as well as former TUF winner Michael Chiesa responded by telling White in a tweet "that gym handed u 2 ultimate fighters raised from teenagers created from scratch, there is a reason she destroyed evry1 in UFC." Little followed up with "It's funny how Dana and every1 thinks elite girls train with a room of girls, they train with men. & Julianna trains hard, ask anyone on TUF."

The UFC no doubt wanted to build up Pena, an exciting fighter in a difvision that could use some fresh, popular challengers. But White's frustrations may be a little misplaced, injuries are a part of the game and there simply aren't gyms where WMMA fighters are able to train with a ton of high level female partners. Training with men is just part of the game right now.

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