Girls’s bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington put her title on the road for the primary time on Saturday within the UFC 307 co-main occasion. “Rocky” confronted former titleholder Julianna Peña in a little bit of a rivalry combat.
The 2 appeared on The Final Fighter 18 in 2013. Pennington was defeated within the semifinals whereas Peña went on the win the season. Throughout the UFC 307 Pre-fight Press Convention, Pennington stated she’s waited eleven years for this combat to occur. They had been pals in 2013, however don’t like one another now.
Pennington entered her first title protection using a six-fight successful streak. Peña hadn’t fought since July 2022 when she misplaced to Amanda Nunes at UFC 277.
Pennington pawed along with her jab within the early going. Peña related with a stiff jab as Pennington moved into the pocket. Pennington delivered a stiff jab that acquired Peña’s consideration. Peña discovered a house for her proper hand. They stood in entrance of one another and boxed by way of the primary half of the spherical.
Pennington stepped ahead and landed an uppercut. She doubled up on her jab. Peña responded with a proper hand. Peña related with a proper hand excessive. The primary spherical was aggressive. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Pennington attributable to output.
Pennington pressed ahead behind her jab to begin the second body. Peña stored her guard excessive and related with a proper hand. Pennington responded with a entrance kick to the physique. 90 seconds into the spherical, they two clinched. Peña tripped Pennington to the canvas and landed in aspect management.
Peña delivered knees to the physique. Pennington scrambled to her ft however Peña stored the strain on and took Pennington’s again. She utilized a physique lock to the standing Pennington. The spherical ended with Peña on Pennington’s again. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Peña.
Pennington pressed ahead within the third. They exchanged jabs. Pennington delivered a leg kick. Peña clinched however Pennington pushed her away. Pennington began to bleed from her nostril. Peña related with an uppercut and clinched. She tripped Pennington to the canvas and once more landed in aspect management.
Pennington scrambled however Peña took her again. Peña utilized a physique triangle and delivered punches. Peña labored to secured a rear-naked choke. Pennington defended the submission try however remained in a foul place. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Peña.
Between rounds Pennington’s nook urged her to let her arms go. Pennington landed a head kick initially of the third. She landed a leg kick. Peña responded with a proper hand. Peña related with a proper hand. Pennington responded with an uppercut. Pennington pressed ahead and landed a proper hand. Penningon related with a clear proper hand that dropped Peña. She adopted her to the bottom. Peña stood and clinched. The 2 separated seconds later. Pennington landed a jab and Peña reacted with a proper hand. Pennington’s proper hand discovered a house. Pennington landed her jab because the spherical ended. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Pennington.
Heading into the ultimate spherical, the momentum was undoubtedly in Pennington’s favor. She pressed ahead behind her jab. Pennington continued to land her jab. Peña responded with a proper hand. Peña’s output slowed. They exchanged jabs. They clinched and Pennington pressed Peña towards the cage. She disengaged and landed a proper hand. Peña landed a counter proper hand however appeared fatigued.
Pennington landed a counter proper hand that damage Peña. Pennington pressured Peña. Peña related with a mix. Pennington continued to strain Peña. Peña landed a proper hand. Pennington powered ahead however got here up brief with a mix. Pennington landed a superman punch on the bell. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Pennington.
The judges scored the combat for Peña through cut up choice. The scorecards learn 48-47, 47-48, and 48-47. With the win, Peña grew to become a two-time UFC champion.
