Julianna Pena set to return from injury layoff against Milana Dudieva on April 4

After being forced onto the sidelines with a harrowing knee injury that was initially supposed to keep her out of competition for the better part of two years, Julianna Pena will finally make her return to the octagon 14 months later against Ossetia -native Milana Dudieva.

The match-up, which was first announced by ESPN, will take place on April 4 in Fairfax, VA.

Juliana Pena took command of the spotlight during the filming of The Ultimate Fighter 18 - a season of the show that she won as an underdog with victories over veteran Shayna Baszler, Sarah Moras, and Jessica Rakoczy. However, Pena's luck soon ran out, as she suffered a gruesome knee injury that included damaging the ACL, MCL, and meniscus in her right knee.

While many thought it was an injury that could bring with it a premature end to her career, or at least two years on the sidelines, Pena will return to the octagon ten months shy of the two year time frame.

Her upcoming opponent is an intriguing Russian competitor who is on a three-fight winning streak, including a decision victory over Elizabeth Phillips in her debut for the UFC.

UFC Fight Night: Mendes vs. Lamas is scheduled to take place April 4 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia.

Check out the updated fight card below:

Chad Mendes vs. Ricardo Lamas
Benson Henderson vs. Jorge Masvidal
Michael Chiesa vs. Mitch Clarke
Dustin Poirier vs. Diego Ferreira
Liz Carmouche vs. Lauren Murphy
Julianna Pena vs. Milana Dudieva
Luke Barnatt vs. Clint Hester
Shamil Abdurahimov vs. Timothy Johnson