Raquel Pennington is the new women’s bantamweight champ after securing the decision’s vacant belt last weekend. And for Pennington, “the fight that makes sense” is a match between her and former women’s bantamweight champ Julianna Peña.
Pennington made a successful fight against Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 297 by defeating her via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45). This extended her winning streak to six and gave her the confidence to instantly name her next opponent: Peña.
Prior to the UFC 297, the former champ lambasted the Bueno Silva vs. Pennington match, saying that fans were being “force-fed” with a “horrible interim title fight.” Peña lost the belt to Amanda Nunes in July 2022 via unanimous decision and hasn’t fought since then due to an injury. With Nunes now retired and her being unable to fight due to her current state, “The Venezuelan Vixen” believes the fight between Bueno Silva and Pennington was just meant to “warm” the belt in her absence.
Pennington, who’s not usually fond of trash talk, doesn’t like any of the comments, which reignited her dislike for Peña. And given that a win over the former champ would further cement her title as the division’s champion, “Rocky” thinks this is the fight she would like to have next.
“That’s the fight that makes sense,” Pennington said during the UFC 297 post-fight press conference. “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. 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.”
