TORONTO – UFC 297 will mark a brand new chapter within the historical past of the ladies’s bantamweight division when Mayra Bueno Silva and Raquel Pennington struggle for the vacant championship left behind by Amanda Nunes.
After years of dominance atop the load class, Nunes retired from competitors in June, leaving the belt with out an proprietor. Greater than six months later, a brand new champion will lastly be topped when Silva (10-2-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) takes on Pennington (15-8 MMA, 12-5 UFC) within the co-main occasion at Scotiabank Enviornment.
It is going to be simply the second time within the historical past of the division, and first time because the March 2016 bout between Miesha Tate and Holly Holm at UFC 196, {that a} 135-pound title struggle won’t function Nunes or Ronda Rousey. They’ve been the faces of this division since its introduction to the UFC greater than a decade in the past, and now Silva is able to take over.
“I’m the champion – I’m the chosen one,” Silva informed MMA Junkie on Monday. “This division just isn’t an important division. The UFC just isn’t speaking an excessive amount of concerning the bantamweight division. They discuss Ronda or they discuss Amanda. They don’t discuss this division. This division was once an enormous division within the UFC. Now I really feel I can do that.”
Silva, No. 4 within the newest USA TODAY Sports activities/MMA Junkie ladies’s bantamweight rankings, is aware of she has a tough process forward. No. 2 Pennington has extra fights than anybody within the historical past of the division, and she or he has title struggle expertise on her resume within the type of a Might 2018 loss to Nunes.
The Brazilian is giving her opponent the last word respect going into UFC 297 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+), however Silva, 32, is assured she has a superior talent set to Pennington, 35, and it’ll present contained in the octagon.
“She has good boxing, she has a very good clinch – she’s robust,” Silva stated. “She keep within the prime 5 for a very long time. However I imagine I’m higher than her in every thing. My jiu-jitsu is best, my boxing is best, my wrestling is best, however she’s very robust. She’s very harmful.
“Her fights are nice fights, however they’re not very thrilling. I imagine my fashion is completely different. My fashion is extra harmful and thrilling for everyone. I promise I’ll give an enormous present.”
Silva stated she’s absolutely locked in on the victory at UFC 297, however it’s laborious to disregard what may presumably come after that. The UFC is anticipated to return to her native Brazil for a pay-per-view occasion in Rio on Might 4, and Silva stated it will be a dream to aim her first protection on that card.
“My focus now could be on Saturday evening,” Silva stated. “However in fact, after I win, I wish to struggle in Brazil.”
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