Tag: raquel pennington

Julianna Pena Gearing Up for a Summertime UFC Title Fight with New Champ Raquel Pennington

Julianna PenaJulianna Pena is already angling for a summertime scrap with the new women’s bantamweight world champion. On Saturday (January…

Julianna Pena

Julianna Pena is already angling for a summertime scrap with the new women’s bantamweight world champion.

On Saturday (January 20), Raquel Pennington claimed her first UFC title after more than a decade competing inside the Octagon. She scored a decisive unanimous decision victory over Mayra Bueno Silva in the UFC 297 co-main event to capture the 135-pound crown, setting the stage for a showdown with fellow veteran and one-time titleholder Julianna Pena.

‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ joined Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour to share her thoughts on Pennington’s win in The Great White North. As expected, Pena has nothing particularly positive to say about the performances of both ‘Rocky’ and Bueno Silva.

“It was a snooze fest,” Peña said. “I was not impressed. I was not impressed with their performances, as my friend Georges St-Pierre likes to say. It was all around just a complete disappointment, but it doesn’t matter because the breaking news is we will be fighting for the real belt this summer, coming at you to a theatre near you.”

As for when he could see Pena make her return to the Octagon for a long-awaited clash with Pennington, the former bantamweight champ suggested that a date in either June or July is the likeliest scenario.

“Maybe the first week of June,” Pena revealed. “Maybe the third week of July. I’m not sure exactly, but I would say one of those two dates. I asked for International Fight Week. They said that the date wasn’t available. However, they did say that if anything changes they would let me know. I think the location would be a really big factor for me. They won’t give me the location of June or July yet, but I do know that both locations will be in the United States.“

Pena admitted to being happy for her former Ultimate Fighter foe following the events of UFC 297, but that won’t stop her from trying to make Pennington’s title reign as short as possible and sending ‘Rocky’ into retirement.

“I really am happy for her and her career and everything like that,” Pena added. “But it’s going to be short-lived. It’s not going to be being this champion for seven years. That’s not the case, unfortunately. She’s already talking about retiring and going into her retirement being a family man. Let me do the honors and kick you into retirement, Raquel.”

Julianna Pena knows a thing or two about abbreviated title runs, handing the bantamweight strap back to Amanda Nunes seven months after shocking the world with a second-round submission of ‘The Lioness’ at UFC 269.

Amanda Nunes teases shocking return after Raquel Pennington’s title win at UFC 297: ‘I’m still young and fresh’

Amanda Nunes hints at stunning return after UFC 297 title fight I'm still young and freshFormer undisputed two-weight champion, Amanda Nunes has teased a stunning return from her June retirement from mixed martial arts…

Amanda Nunes hints at stunning return after UFC 297 title fight I'm still young and fresh

Former undisputed two-weight champion, Amanda Nunes has teased a stunning return from her June retirement from mixed martial arts in the immediate aftermath of Raquel Pennington’s title victory at UFC 297 over the weekend – pointing to her intact competitive drive.

Nunes, a former undisputed bantamweight champion and featherweight titleholder under the banner of the Dana White-led organization, called time on her illustrious mixed martial arts career back in June of last year following UFC 289.

Landing another consecutive successful bantamweight title defense, Bahia native, Nunes turned back incoming title chaser, Irene Aldana in a dominant unanimous decision victory over the course of five rounds.

Amanda Nunes leaves door open on UFC return

And returning to ‘The Great White North’ over the weekend to watch on as past-foe, Pennington landed a decision shutout win over her compatriot, Mayra Bueno Silva to mint herself as the new bantamweight champion, Nunes addressed a potential return to the sport – appearing more than open to the possibility.

“We’ll see what happens, you know,” Amanda Nunes told Megan Olivi following UFC 297. “I’m still young, you know – fresh. You know, like, you never know. We have a lot of things to do, I have a lot of things to figure out at home still – what I’m gonna do. And, we’ll see what happens.”

“I don’t know, you know,” Amanda Nunes explained when asked if the door remained open on her return. “I’m a fighter, you know. This is my job. And I love this so much, and I don’t know.” 

Already weighing up her first title defense following her championship coronation in Toronto, Pennington called for a long-awaited grudge match with former champion, Julianna Peña – who boldly claimed the victor of the UFC 297 co-main event was fighting for the right to take her on next. 

Would you like to see Amanda Nunes make a return to the Octagon?

Amanda Nunes teases shocking return after Raquel Pennington’s title win at UFC 297: ‘I’m still young and fresh’

Amanda Nunes hints at stunning return after UFC 297 title fight I'm still young and freshFormer undisputed two-weight champion, Amanda Nunes has teased a stunning return from her June retirement from mixed martial arts…

Amanda Nunes hints at stunning return after UFC 297 title fight I'm still young and fresh

Former undisputed two-weight champion, Amanda Nunes has teased a stunning return from her June retirement from mixed martial arts in the immediate aftermath of Raquel Pennington’s title victory at UFC 297 over the weekend – pointing to her intact competitive drive.

Nunes, a former undisputed bantamweight champion and featherweight titleholder under the banner of the Dana White-led organization, called time on her illustrious mixed martial arts career back in June of last year following UFC 289.

Landing another consecutive successful bantamweight title defense, Bahia native, Nunes turned back incoming title chaser, Irene Aldana in a dominant unanimous decision victory over the course of five rounds.

Amanda Nunes leaves door open on UFC return

And returning to ‘The Great White North’ over the weekend to watch on as past-foe, Pennington landed a decision shutout win over her compatriot, Mayra Bueno Silva to mint herself as the new bantamweight champion, Nunes addressed a potential return to the sport – appearing more than open to the possibility.

“We’ll see what happens, you know,” Amanda Nunes told Megan Olivi following UFC 297. “I’m still young, you know – fresh. You know, like, you never know. We have a lot of things to do, I have a lot of things to figure out at home still – what I’m gonna do. And, we’ll see what happens.”

“I don’t know, you know,” Amanda Nunes explained when asked if the door remained open on her return. “I’m a fighter, you know. This is my job. And I love this so much, and I don’t know.” 

Already weighing up her first title defense following her championship coronation in Toronto, Pennington called for a long-awaited grudge match with former champion, Julianna Peña – who boldly claimed the victor of the UFC 297 co-main event was fighting for the right to take her on next. 

Would you like to see Amanda Nunes make a return to the Octagon?

Raquel Pennington eyes Julianna Peña grudge clash after UFC 297 title victory: ‘That’s the fight that makes sense’

Raquel Pennington eyes title fight with Julianna Peña after UFC 297 that makes the most senseNewly-crowned undisputed bantamweight titleholder, Raquel Pennington is already making plans for her first attempted defense of 135 pound following…

Raquel Pennington eyes title fight with Julianna Peña after UFC 297 that makes the most sense

Newly-crowned undisputed bantamweight titleholder, Raquel Pennington is already making plans for her first attempted defense of 135 pound following her crowning at UFC 297 overnight, welcoming a long-standing grudge match with ex-gold holder, Julianna Peña first and foremost.

Pennington, a veteran of The Ultimate Fighter, co-headlined UFC 297 overnight against surging Brazilian submission artist, Mayra Bueno Silva – snapping the latter’s four-fight unbeaten run with a one-sided unanimous decision shutout win in the pair’s vacant title battle.

Raquel Pennington eyes Julianna Peña title defense

Crowning herself as the new queen of the bantamweights at the second time of trying following a prior fifth round TKO loss to former two-weight champion and common-foe, Amanda Nunes, Pennington welcomed the idea of a fight with Peña in the future – who herself as been vocal in the days ahead of UFC 297.

“That’s the fight that makes sense,” Raquel Pennington said of a bout with Julianna Peña whilst speaking with assembled media after UFC 297. “ I honestly thought that for the world title it was going to be me and Julianna, but she’s still injured.”

“That relationship just goes back to 2013 when we were both back in The Ultimate Fighter,” Raquel Pennington explained. “Let’s just say, I learned Julianna’s personality then, and it’s kind of one of those where you stay your way, and I’ll stay mine, but you get under my damn skin, I’ve been waiting for that fight for 13 years – whether the title is on the line or not.” 

Ahead of UFC 297 in Toronto, former champion, Peña, the first female Ultimate Fighter victor in the history of the promotion, boldly claimed that both Pennington and the above-mentioned, Bueno Silva were merely fighting for an interim title, before meeting her for the undisputed crown. 

Who wins in a future championship clash: Raquel Pennington or Julianna Peña?

Raquel Pennington Scores Decisive Decision Victory to Win Bantamweight Title – UFC 297 Highlights

Raquel PenningtonAfter 10 years and 18 fights inside the Octagon, Raquel Pennington can finally call herself a UFC champion. Stepping…

Raquel Pennington

After 10 years and 18 fights inside the Octagon, Raquel Pennington can finally call herself a UFC champion.

Stepping into the UFC 297 co-main event spotlight inside Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, ‘Rocky’ one of the most dominant performances of her illustrious career against one of the division’s fiercest finishers, Mayra Bueno Silva. Pennington came out looking to push the pace from the get-go, but her offense was largely stifled in the first round as the Brazilian put her clinch game on display.

However, Bueno Silva was unable to keep that pace. As she began to noticeably slow, Pennington wore on her opponent in the clinch and found herself taking significant control of the bout by the time they entered the championship rounds.

In the fifth and final round, Pennington poured it on, unloading a series of ground-and-pound strikes that Bueno Silva had no answer for. With time running out, Pennington popped up and peppered a Bueno Silva with a series of kicks before the final bell rang.

Official Result: Raquel Pennington def. Mayra Bueno Silva via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) to capture the UFC women’s bantamweight world championship.

Check Out Highlights From Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 297: