When Raquel Pennington won the UFC women’s bantamweight title in January, she briefly felt the pressure of everyone wanting a piece of the champ.
As the Harrison alum ventures further into motherhood, though, Pennington recognizes her career is temporary. The family she’s created outside of UFC remains the focal point.
“As an athlete, sometimes we get mixed up in our passion, especially in MMA,” Pennington said. “This sport tends to have the highest of highs and lowest of lows. We let it define us and I’ve been guilty of that. But after having the baby, that helped remind me that this is just my passion. I get to live a cool lifestyle, but my purpose is that little girl.”
Pennington (16-9) will defend her bantamweight championship in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5 at UFC 307 against Julianna Peña (12-5) in the co-main event at the Delta Center.
For Pennington, who has not lost since January 2020 and enters the matchup on a six-fight win streak, she’s learned to cherish every aspect that will make her daughter Alayah proud.
After her fight with Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 297 where Pennington won the championship, her spouse, Tecia Pennington, who will also fight this weekend, brought Alayah int0 the octagon to celebrate the victory.
Sporting a pair of pink headphones to drown out noise from more than 18,000 in attendance at Scotiabank Arena, Alayah looked on as Tecia and Pennington’s family and trainers gathered around the champ to celebrate the victory.
“It’ll be cool to look back and show her all of these memories and all these little things,” Pennington said. “Right now, she doesn’t understand, but what a life this little girl is living. A lot of people ask us do we want her to be a fighter and the answer to that is absolutely not. Tecia and I plan on supporting Alayah and whatever sets her heart on fire. But I definitely hope it’s basketball, softball or volleyball or something different.
“This is a cool time frame and we’re the ones who teach her to be brave, courageous and strong and this has brought a different purpose to our careers.”
Pennington recently visited Sierra High School for a rivalry football game between the Stallions and the Panthers on Sept. 20.
During Pennington’s visit, she met Elijah Smith, the Sierra grad who recently won a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series and soaked in the scenes at Sierra’s recently remodeled stadium.
“It was incredible and an honor to be there,” Pennington said. “I got to see some of my old teachers, coaches, classmates and going back to my roots and where it all started. Those were really good times. I’m a Panther for life and it was awesome to see everybody come out and support everything.”
Peña has watched Pennington’s reign and said she’s not impressed with the champ’s promotion of the women’s bantamweight division.
During an Oct. 2, press conference, Peña told reporters that Pennington “has not been a good representation of the women’s bantamweight division,” and said she’d improve that if she were champion.
“She’s done everything she possibly can to constantly avoid being the face of women’s MMA,” Peña said. “(She’s) not being that big face that wants to promote and be that great representation of women’s MMA. … You’re showing me nothing but you’re telling me everything.”
Since their time on The Ultimate Fighter season 18 more than 11 years ago, Pennington and Peña have shared their dislike for one another.
Pennington said Peña spoke badly about some women fighters, including Nunes and Pennington, and said her challenger talked too much then and not much has changed.
“She’s got a master’s degree in yapology,” Pennington said. “The girl likes to run her mouth and say all kinds of things. At the end of the day, words don’t hurt anybody. She can sit here and criticize me and do whatever but at the end of the day, I’m the champion and I’ve been the one most active from our season. I’ve fought the best of the best and she’s spent a lot of her career being injured.
“Words are words. But at the end of the day, I finally get to go in there and punch her in the mouth.”
Should Pennington defeat Peña this weekend, she’d be the first to successfully defend the women’s bantamweight title since Nunes did so in March 2021.
For Pennington, there’s no “if” about whether she wins.
“First off, it’s when I defend this thing successfully,” Pennington said. “I’ve been an underdog my entire career and I don’t get half the credit I deserve. … I’ll be the oldest woman to defend this title. I’ll be the third person to successfully defend this title (Ronda Rousey, Nunes.)
“That’s exciting and it’s adding to my legacy, but at the end of the day I don’t pay attention to those little things until it’s all said and done.”
How to watch:
Early Prelims 4:30 p.m. Watch on UFC Fight Pass
Prelims 5 p.m. Watch on ESPNEWS & ESPN+
Main Card 8 p.m. Order on ESPN+ ($79.99)
Raquel Pennington (16-9) last six fights:
Date, opponent, result
Jan. 20, 2024, Mayra Bueno Silva, unanimous decision win*
Jan. 14, 2023, Ketlen Vieira, split decision win
April 9, 2022, Aspen Ladd, unanimous decision win
Dec. 18, 2021, Macy Chiasson, submission win
Sept. 18, 2021, Pannie Kianzad, unanimous decision win
Jan. 20, 2020, Marion Reneau, unanimous decision win
*Denotes fight for vacant bantamweight title
