This is the UFC 184 live blog for Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington, a woman’s bantamweight bout at Saturday night’s UFC event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Holm, who is making her UFC debut, will face Pennington, who has won two of her past three fights, in the co-main event.
Check out the UFC 184 live blog below.
More Coverage: UFC 184 Results | UFC news
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Round 1: Holm is perpetual motion in her corner. She has not stopped moving since skipping to the Octagon. Your referee is Herb Dean. Holm misses a side kick. Pennington goes for a takedown. Holm defends. Smart idea by Pennington. Holm lands a left. Holm lands a right against the cage. Holm side kick to the gut. Major speed advantage here. Holm lands a combination. Pennington hits with a left. Side kick by Holm. Pennington’s takedown attempt is stuffed again. Left hand by Holm. Pennington catches a high kick, but can’t finish a takedown. Not a good sign. Knees in the clinch from Holm. They break away. Pennington lands. Pennington firing away, but can’t catch Holm. Too fast. Holm just misses a big elbow. Pennington still trying to chase Holm down. Pennington lands a bit. That’s the round. MMA Fighting has this round for Holm 10-9.
Round 2: Pennington lands a body kick. Holm just misses a head kick that would have sent Pennington’s noggin to the second row. Holm more aggressive now, going for those big kicks. Holm lands a knee. Side kick to the gut from Holm. That has been her most effective technique. Pennington lands some hard punches to the body in the clinch. Pennington can’t get Holm down. Her timing is good, but her technique is not. Holm lands. Pennington lands a right. Pennington lands a combination. Holm lands a combination. Good body shot by Holm. Knees in the clinch from Holm. Pennington grazes her as the round ends. MMA Fighting has this round for Holm 10-9.
Round 3: Good right by Pennington. And another. Pennington is doing just fine, honestly. Holm catches Pennington with a right hook. Pennington lands a right. Holm rips to the body, Pennington counters to the face. Holm lands again. Good body kick by Holm. The crowd boos. Pennington drops Holm with a right hand! Pennington pounces, but Holm recovers and gets up. Big right on the exit by Pennington. Holm lands a head kick. Pennington is OK. Big combo from Pennington. More hard punches from Pennington. The crowd is going nuts now. Holm is bleeding out of her nose. They exchange and mostly miss. That’s the fight. MMA Fighting has this round for Pennington 10-9 and the fight for Holm 29-28.
UFC 184 official result: Holly Holm def. Raquel Pennington via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)