Raquel Pennington captured the vacant women’s bantamweight title with a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 297. Despite her victory, Pennington faced criticism for engaging in a prolonged clinch battle, which drew boos from her fans and disapproval from UFC CEO Dana White and his corner. .
In the postgame press conference, Pennington revealed that he had had a rough day of preparation, waking up feeling sick and questioning everything. Despite her poor health, she displayed the mindset of a champion, sought the support of her coach and sports psychologist, and found motivation in meeting her daughter. Pennington won four of the five rounds on all three judges’ scorecards, securing the fight 10-8 in the first round.
Looking ahead, Pennington expressed a desire to face Juliana Peña, a longtime feud from her days on The Ultimate Fighter. Peña was a former bantamweight champion who was initially targeted for a fight for the vacant title but withdrew due to injury. Pennington saw the match as potentially settling a score dating back to 2013, saying, “I’ve been waiting for that fight for 13 years, whether the title is on the line or not.”
Despite the win and new title, Pennington acknowledged the challenges ahead, stressing his desire to remain active while recognizing the need to balance career and family commitments. Pennington, 35, aims to defend his title several times before calling an end to his fighting career.
The win was a significant accomplishment for Pennington, who made his UFC debut more than a decade ago and overcame illness and adversity in preparation for UFC 297 and now holds the bantamweight title.
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