- George Chung
- Oct 4, 2024
- 3 min read
Raquel Pennington’s journey to UFC 307 has been anything but ordinary. It’s been a long, winding road full of triumphs and setbacks, leading to this weekend’s epic clash against Julianna Peña for the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship. On October 5, 2024, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, these two warriors will finally meet in the Octagon after more than a decade of anticipation.
The Origins of a Rivalry: TUF Season 18
Pennington and Peña first crossed paths during The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 18. Coached by MMA icons Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate, the season was historic as the first to feature female athletes. Both Pennington and Peña were placed on Team Tate, sharing not only a team but also a room, which sparked early tensions between the two.
Despite those tensions, both fighters had standout moments on the show — Peña submitted Shayna Baszler, while Pennington earned Fight of the Season for her gritty win over Jessamyn Duke. At the time, many believed they would meet in the finale, but fate had other plans. Pennington was sidelined with injuries, and Peña went on to win the season.
Pennington has carried the weight of that unfinished business ever since. "This is a fight that wasn’t just an eight-week camp for me — this is a fight that has been on my mind for 11 years," Pennington said, reflecting on the long history between them.
A Collision Course Years in the Making
The fact that these two haven’t faced each other in the Octagon until now is nothing short of surprising. Their UFC careers have spanned 11 years, but their paths never quite aligned. In 2016, both seemed destined for a showdown, with Peña defeating Cat Zingano at UFC 200 and Pennington scoring a decisive win over Miesha Tate at UFC 205. But life had different plans — injuries, title runs, and personal milestones kept them apart until now.
For Pennington, this fight isn’t just about the belt; it’s about finally settling the score. “I always asked, and she was either injured or didn’t want to fight me. I was always like, ‘Make her sign on the damn line! I want this fight!’” Pennington exclaimed, voicing the frustrations of a decade-long wait.
The Championship Legacy
While Peña will enter UFC 307 as the former bantamweight champion, Pennington is no stranger to title contention. She fought Amanda Nunes for the belt at UFC 224, but that night ended in disappointment. However, since that loss, Pennington has gone on a five-fight winning streak, culminating in her victory over Mayra Bueno Silva to claim the bantamweight title earlier this year.
Pennington’s rise to champion hasn’t been an easy one. “I have always worked from the bottom up and always been the underdog,” she said. “I’m a Colorado girl, and I love the mountains, but I genuinely use that as an example all the time because I’ve climbed a lot of mountains.”
Now, standing at the top of the division, Pennington is ready to defend her title against the woman she’s waited 11 years to fight.
A Champion’s Mindset
As she prepares to face Peña at UFC 307, Pennington remains grounded yet eager for the challenge. "It’s just exciting for it to actually happen, but I’m also the type of person where this is just competition," Pennington said, brushing off any need for pre-fight trash talk. “At the end of the day, she can run her mouth, but I’m gonna get my hand raised.”
Pennington’s journey to the top has been filled with both physical and emotional battles, but her resolve has never wavered. "I am genuinely, genuinely proud of myself," she said, reflecting on her career. "When you get into fighting, the ultimate goal is to get into the UFC and stay in the UFC. I’ve been in the UFC now for 11 years; that’s not something easy to do."
UFC 307: The Final Showdown
As fight night approaches, Pennington’s excitement is palpable. After 11 years of waiting, she’s more than ready to step into the Octagon with Peña. “Oh my God! Oh man! I am so excited!” she exclaimed, laughing about how even the sight of her opponent motivates her to push through training.
This Saturday night at UFC 307, Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña will finally face off, with the women’s bantamweight title on the line. It’s a fight years in the making, and both athletes are more than prepared to leave it all in the cage.
Don’t miss UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Jr., live from Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 5, 2024. Prelims start at 8pm ET/5pm PT, with the main card airing live on PPV at 10pm ET/7pm PT.
This is the culmination of a decade-long rivalry — and Pennington is ready to defend her legacy.
