TORONTO -- There’s nothing quite like an underdog Rocky story in combat sports and fans at Scotiabank Arena were gifted one of those moments at UFC 297.
It took her more than 10 years and 20 total fights to get there, but Raquel 'Rocky' Pennington is finally a UFC champion. Pennington defeated Mayra Bueno Silva in the UFC 297 co-main event Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena to become the new women’s bantamweight champion.
The opening minutes of the bout were clinch heavy with Bueno Silva throwing the more aggressive elbows and knees in tight. Bueno Silva took Pennington’s back midway through the opening round along the fence and maintained control for the duration of the first round.
Pennington exited her corner with more vigour in Round 2, flicking out a stiff jab that bothered Bueno Silva. Any time the two had separation on their feet Pennington would tend to get the better of the exchanges, yet It didn’t take long for Bueno Silva to reinitiate the clinch. At the close of the round, she had taken Pennington’s back and attempted a rear-naked choke that was defended.
It was much of the same throughout the third and fourth rounds, the noisy fans getting more impatient with each passing round and each moment of stalling clinch work.
By the end of the fourth round it was clear Pennington had an advantage in physical strength and began landing her most effective ground strikes. Pennington controlled the majority of the fifth and final round from top position and ended the fight standing over Bueno Silva repeatedly kicking her legs to a chorus of boos.
The boos didn’t impact the scorecards though as all three judges called the fight for Pennington (49-46, 49-46, 49-45).
It was only the second UFC women’s bantamweight title fight that did not involve either Ronda Rousey or Amanda Nunes. Miesha Tate vs. Holly Holm is the only other one.
The belt had been vacant the past seven months, ever since Nunes ended her Hall of Fame fighting career in 2023 when she announced her retirement following the UFC 289 main event in Vancouver, the last time the UFC hosted an event in Canada prior to UFC 297.
Current No. 1 contender and former champion Julianna Pena, one of only two women to defeat Nunes in the UFC, is the obvious next in line at 135 pounds. Pena, who upset Nunes to win the belt at UFC 269 in 2021, has not fought since losing her rematch with Nunes at UFC 277 in July of 2022. A trilogy bout between Nunes and Pena was originally slated to headline that Vancouver event, however Pena pulled out due to a rib injury and has she been recovering from that and other injuries in the time since.
“Julianna get your ass better,” Pennington said after having the belt wrapped around her waist. “It’s been 10 years I’ve been waiting for that fight.”
Pennington, like many of the UFC’s top stars in the women’s division, got her shot at the UFC through The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate Finale alongside Pena. The two have never fought.
The 35-year-old Colorado Springs, Colo., native previously fought for the title in 2018 but lost via technical knockout to Nunes in the fifth and final round.
“It feels surreal,” the new champion said. “It’s been a long five years getting back to this.”
Pennington has more fights than anyone in the history of the UFC women’s bantamweight division and is second all-time in wins behind Nunes.
Pennington was the No. 2-ranked contender entering Saturday despite not competing for more than a full year. Just like her demeanour, there is nothing too flashy about Pennington’s proficient style and her current win streak is no different. Fittingly the win that made her a champion was also understated.
Bueno Silva was the No. 3-ranked contender entering Saturday. The 32-year-old Brazilian had not lost since returning to the bantamweight division in 2022. Her submission win over one-time champ Holly Holm in July was changed to a no-contest after the Nevada State Athletic Commission flagged her for a possible doping violation and handed her a six-month suspension. Bueno Silva tested positive for ritalinic acid, which was attributed to an ADHD medication she was on.
The UFC decided to book her in the vacant title bout regardless.
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