Raquel Pennington has a new opponent for the final UFC event of 2021.
On Tuesday, MMA Fighting was first to report that The Ultimate Fighter 28 winner Macy Chiasson was stepping up on short notice to face Pennington at UFC Vegas 45 on December 18. Chiasson would later confirm her involvement on social media.
Avila was previously reported as dropping out of the fight due to a knee injury.
For Chiasson (7-1), the fight will be her first since March, after a pair of dates opposite Aspen Ladd were scrapped. In July, Chiasson was forced to withdraw from her fight against Ladd due to an injury. When the pair was rebooked for October, it was Ladd who saw the fight scrapped, after missing weight and looking shaky on the scale.
Chiasson has won her last two bouts, against Shanna Young and Marion Reneau, both by decision. She’s fought just five times since winning TUF 28 in 2018.
Former women’s bantamweight title challenger Pennington (12-8) last competed in September, where she picked up a unanimous decision victory against Pannie Kianzad. Like Chiasson, she’s won her last two bouts.
UFC Vegas 45 takes place at the Apex in Las Vegas on December 18, 2021. A heavyweight bout between Derrick Lewis and Chris Daukaus headlines. The following fights have been reported for the card thus far:
Derrick Lewis vs. Chris Daukaus
Cub Swanson vs. Darren Elkins
Charles Jourdain vs. Andre Ewell
Justin Tafa vs. Harry Hunsucker
Amanda Lemos vs. Angela Hill
Gerald Meerschaert vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
Don’Tale Mayes vs. Josh Parisian
Raphael Assunção vs. Ricky Simón
Matt Sayles vs. Jordan Leavitt
Raoni Barcelos vs. Trevin Jones
Sijara Eubanks vs. Melissa Gatto
Carlos Diego Ferreira vs. Mateusz Gamrot
Stephen Thompson vs. Belal Muhammad
Raquel Pennington vs. Macy Chiasson
