Since losing to Holly Holm (UD3) at UFC 246 in January 2020, Raquel Pennington [2] has won five straight and looks set for a second crack at UFC gold later this year. Amanda Nunes’ recent retirement leaves a long-awaited matchup vs. former champon Julianna Pena the most likely play for the promotion, but will Holm have a say when she returns on Saturday night?
Rocky says she’s ready to get world title next
- “I was super frustrated with the way everything happened, but I understand what they [the promotion] were doing with all the Mexican champions and stuff. I’ll tell you what: I’m ready to get that world title next,” Pennington told reporters at the UFC Hall of Fame, having weighed in as the back-up fighter for Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana last month
- “This has been a fight I’ve been waiting for since TUF, so, 2013? Ten years later… there’s no way I’m coming out of that octagon without my hand being raised,” 34-year-old suggests Pena bout is now inevitable
- Holm, who faces Mayra Bueno Silva in Saturday’s main event, is equally bullish about a title shot: “I don’t see why I wouldn’t [fight for the belt], we’re no. 1-3, I already had this fight scheduled before a lot of the division’s shake-up, but my focus is still on Saturday night because that’s all I’m promised right now – be present that night, see where we go from there.”
Raquel Pennington was frustrated, but had to settle for a reserve role last month.
Having edged a split decision win over Ketlen Vieira in mid-January, the desire for a fresh opponent hurt any chance she would’ve had to face Amanda Nunes at UFC 289 after Julianna Pena withdrew from their slated trilogy bout with broken ribs in May.
Pennington, who strung together a four-fight win streak to face Nunes for bantamweight gold at UFC 224 in May 2018, suffered a fifth-round TKO defeat that night and there wasn’t much to suggest this would be any different after these stats:
Nunes: 124 of 254 significant strikes landed, 152 total with three takedowns and 4:29 control time
Pennington: 64 of 169 sig strikes landed, 79 total with one takedown and 2:13 ctrl time
Pennington would’ve faced Pena in the TUF Finale a decade ago, but lost a decision at the semifinal stage against Jessica Rakoczy and instead beat Roxanne Modafferi on the fight night card headlined by Nate Diaz vs. Gray Maynard in November 2013.
Both have stayed within the weight division but gone their separate ways since, while a few shared opponents feature on their respective resumes: the evergreen Cat Zingano, perennial contender Germaine de Randamie and most notably Nunes.
Time is ticking, and not just for Pennington
While she’s grateful for a chance to spend time with wife and strawweight contender Tecia Torres, who welcomed baby daughter Alayah into the world on June 1, time is of the essence for Rocky – the same applies for Holm, ageing gracefully at 41.
She’s been in this game more than 15 years now, amateur and pro, though Nunes’ retirement has only shortened the window for contenders in-and-around the Lioness’ age-group as far as potential championship success is concerned.
#8 ranked Karol Rosa (28, 17-5), #14 ranked Josiane Nunes (29, 10-1) and Chelsea Chandler (29, 5-1) at #15 are the only under-30s currently ranked at 135lbs.
Meanwhile, a host of flyweight names have expressed their desire to go up and challenge for gold now the weight class above is in need of a long-term successor.
#3 flyweight talent Erin Blanchfield made a case to be considered last month, having just turned 24 in May, as she continues her rise up the 125lb landscape.
Up next: UFC Vegas 77, headlined by Holm vs. Bueno Silva with Australian welterweight Jack Della Maddalena [14] stashed on the prelims against a short-notice opponent in Bassil Hafez after his UFC 290 matchup twice fell out.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes via mmajunkie
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