Raquel Pennington
Rocky
USA
Drops title in questionable fashion
Pennington dropped the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship on Saturday, falling to Julianna Pena via split decision (48-49, 49-48, 48-49) at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City.
ANALYSIS
It was close, but if you polled most people that watched this fight, the vast majority of folks would likely say Pennington deserved to retain her title. Round 4 was the only frame in which Raquel was truly dominant. She landed the first knockdown of her UFC career and came close to earning the stoppage. Pennington was dominated on the mat in Rounds 2 and 3, with Round 1 ultimately being the frame which decided the fight. Raquel did appear to be the better conditioned athlete, which wasn't surprising given she trains at altitude in Colorado. Pennington was never viewed as a long-term champion, but now 36 years of age, you have to feel for her because it's highly unlikely she'll be able to enter the title picture once again, even in a thin 135-pound female division.
It was close, but if you polled most people that watched this fight, the vast majority of folks would likely say Pennington deserved to retain her title. Round 4 was the only frame in which Raquel was truly dominant. She landed the first knockdown of her UFC career and came close to earning the stoppage. Pennington was dominated on the mat in Rounds 2 and 3, with Round 1 ultimately being the frame which decided the fight. Raquel did appear to be the better conditioned athlete, which wasn't surprising given she trains at altitude in Colorado. Pennington was never viewed as a long-term champion, but now 36 years of age, you have to feel for her because it's highly unlikely she'll be able to enter the title picture once again, even in a thin 135-pound female division.
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Pena to challenge next
Pennington will defend the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship against Julianna Pena at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5, according to Damon Martin of MMA Fighting.
ANALYSIS
Pennington's first defense of the UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion is against a former champ herself. Pena was the division's champion before losing it to Amanda Nunes, whose vacation of that belt resulted in Pennington's last fight, a decision win over Mayra Bueno Silva for gold. Pennington will look to ride the momentum of an impressive six-fight win streak en route to another victory and her first successful title defense.
Pennington's first defense of the UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion is against a former champ herself. Pena was the division's champion before losing it to Amanda Nunes, whose vacation of that belt resulted in Pennington's last fight, a decision win over Mayra Bueno Silva for gold. Pennington will look to ride the momentum of an impressive six-fight win streak en route to another victory and her first successful title defense.
Newest holder of UFC gold
Pennington won the vacant UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship on Saturday, defeating Mayra Bueno Silva via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45) at UFC 297 in Toronto.
ANALYSIS
Pennington won this fight. Or perhaps Bueno Silva lost it. Either way, it doesn't really matter. In the year 2024, Raquel is the newest UFC champion. It ended up a lopsided rout when all was said and done, but Pennington wasn't doing too well early on when Bueno Silva was fresh. That ended somewhere around Round 2, and Raquel cruised the rest of the way by simply leaning on the Brazilian and making her life miserable. In many ways, it was a typical Pennington fight. Now 35 years of age, Pennington has won six straight dating back to June 2020, although she's faced below-average competition during that stretch. Her first title defense will almost certainly be against Julianna Pena, and there's a much better than even chance she loses her belt in that fight, but she is a UFC champion for now, and no one will ever be able to take that away from her.
Pennington won this fight. Or perhaps Bueno Silva lost it. Either way, it doesn't really matter. In the year 2024, Raquel is the newest UFC champion. It ended up a lopsided rout when all was said and done, but Pennington wasn't doing too well early on when Bueno Silva was fresh. That ended somewhere around Round 2, and Raquel cruised the rest of the way by simply leaning on the Brazilian and making her life miserable. In many ways, it was a typical Pennington fight. Now 35 years of age, Pennington has won six straight dating back to June 2020, although she's faced below-average competition during that stretch. Her first title defense will almost certainly be against Julianna Pena, and there's a much better than even chance she loses her belt in that fight, but she is a UFC champion for now, and no one will ever be able to take that away from her.
Tabbed for title fight
Pennington will fight Mayra Bueno Silva for the vacant UFC women's bantamweight title at UFC 297 on Jan. 20 in Toronto, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Pennington has been on a hot streak of late and has won her last five fights at the UFC level, so there's no question she will welcome this bout. Pennington is looking to start the 2024 year on a solid note.
Pennington has been on a hot streak of late and has won her last five fights at the UFC level, so there's no question she will welcome this bout. Pennington is looking to start the 2024 year on a solid note.
Tabbed as 289 backup
Pennington will no longer face Irene Aldana on May 20 after Aldana was selected to replace Juliana Pena in her bantamweight title fight against Amanda Nunes at UFC 289 on June 10 in Vancouver, per MMAFighting.com.
ANALYSIS
While Pennington did lose her main-event spot, Cole Shelton of BJPenn.com reports that she will serve as the backup fighter at 289, which means she'll likely weigh in and be ready to jump in should anything go wrong with Nunes or Aldana. Pennington did face Nunes in a title fight back in May of 2018, where she showed tremendous toughness before ultimately succumbing to the fifth-round TKO. She's been riding a hot streak of late, however, winning five consecutive matchups under the UFC banner.
While Pennington did lose her main-event spot, Cole Shelton of BJPenn.com reports that she will serve as the backup fighter at 289, which means she'll likely weigh in and be ready to jump in should anything go wrong with Nunes or Aldana. Pennington did face Nunes in a title fight back in May of 2018, where she showed tremendous toughness before ultimately succumbing to the fifth-round TKO. She's been riding a hot streak of late, however, winning five consecutive matchups under the UFC banner.
Will main event UFC Vegas 73
Pennington will take on Irene Aldana in the main event of UFC 73 on May 20, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Pennington previously captured a split decision victory over Aldana in the pair's first meeting in 2019. The winner of the rematch will likely be the next challenger for the UFC women's bantamweight championship following the the result of Amanda Nunes' and Julianna Pena's trilogy bout. Pennington is the No. 3 ranked female bantamweight in the world and has won five straight matches. Aldana is ranked No. 6 and has won four of her previous five fights.
Pennington previously captured a split decision victory over Aldana in the pair's first meeting in 2019. The winner of the rematch will likely be the next challenger for the UFC women's bantamweight championship following the the result of Amanda Nunes' and Julianna Pena's trilogy bout. Pennington is the No. 3 ranked female bantamweight in the world and has won five straight matches. Aldana is ranked No. 6 and has won four of her previous five fights.