UFC Vegas 45: Raquel Pennington Says Fight With Julianna Pena Could Finally Align

Las Vegas, NV — Both Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña have been in the UFC since 2013 but have never fought each other. However, “Rocky” thinks their paths might finally cross, and the fight will align.

Pennington (13-8) picked up her second win in 2021 at UFC Vegas 45 on Saturday, as she became the first person to finish Macy Chaisson. Pennington submitted her opponent via guillotine, up a weight class at featherweight.

“Rocky” is now on a three-fight winning streak, and the last time she when on a three-plus fight winning streak, she went on to fight for the title. Unfortunately, she lost but has been working her way back ever since, never dropping out to the top 15, other than during her suspension.

Pennington told Cageside Press following Saturday’s bout that she expects to fight for the bantamweight championship again in 2022, and if she keeps winning, it is very plausible. It just so happens that the champion right now is Peña, someone that Pennington is very familiar with as the two competed on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate.

“Rocky” has her own opinion on Pena that stems back from their time on the show, and she didn’t appreciate Peña’s comments about Nunes not being the first mom actually to give birth.

“I have my own overall opinion on Julianna, I mean, we went on The Ultimate Fighter together, and it stems from way back then. I don’t know, man. I just feel like Amanda [Nunes] was a true champion, a professional champion. I feel like Julianna definitely believes in herself and everything, but half of the sh*t that is coming out of her mouth is extremely frustrating. Especially with the LGBTQ community and like the whole pregnancy thing, being the first mom champ, I don’t know. It is what it is,” Pennington said during her UFC Vegas 45 post-fight interview.

“I remember years ago Dana [White] always thought me and Julianna would be the ones to meet up in the finale for The Ultimate Fighter. In my fight with Jessamyn Duke, I took a lot of injuries in that; we won fight of the season; it was a great fight. In that short period of time, I had no chance to heal, and I went into my semifinals fight with a broken hand. So, my journey has been different, but hey, maybe we’ll align for the world title now.”

Watch the rest of Raquel Pennington’s UFC Vegas 45 post-fight interview above. More coverage from the event can be found below.