With world champion boxer Holly Holm forced out of her much-anticipated UFC debut at UFC 181 with a neck injury, another bantamweight will make her debut on Dec. 6 against Raquel Pennington.
The UFC announced on Wednesday that newcomer Ashlee Evans-Smith will step in to face Pennington on less than three week’s notice. The 27-year old California native Evans-Smith is 3-0 in her professional career, having last fought at WSOF 10 in June against Marciea Allen in June. She won the fight via third-round TKO (strikes).
Pennington (4-4) was a member on The Ultimate Fighter 18, and she won her debut against castmate Roxanne Modafferi at the TUF 18 Finale. In her last bout at UFC 171 she dropped a narrow split decision to Jessica Andrade.
The fight is expected to take place on the prelim portion of UFC 181, which will feature a welterweight title fight between champion Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler in the main event, as well as a lightweight title tilt between TUF 20 coaches Gilbert Melendez and Anthony Pettis. UFC 181 takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.