Las Vegas, NV – UFC bantamweight Raquel Pennington re-entered the title picture with a victory over Ketlen Vieira at UFC Vegas 67 on Saturday at the UFC APEX.
“I’m excited that it’s over with. It’s been a really long camp. 14 weeks I actually had a lot of injuries going on and just different things that I felt like this entire 14 weeks it’s been kind of climbing mountains and coming back down, and climbing some more,” Pennington told Cageside Press among other media at her post-fight scrum.
“So to go out there and actually get my hand raised and continue on my win streak…I’m just happy. I’m relieved, I’m excited.”
Pennington (15-8) said those that managing her injuries was key with the help of the UFC.
“We just had to adapt a little bit and that’s what it’s all about, right,” she said.
With her wife, fellow UFC fighter Tecia Torres, expecting their first child this year would Pennington consider taking some time off?
“Absolutely not. Absolutely not. I’m on a roll, I have goals for myself, and you know I’m an athlete. This is my career, this is my profession. I’m passionate about it. Obviously Tecia knows the lifestyle and what not and so I came out of this healthy,” Pennington said.
“Couple bumps and bruises and couple sutures on my head, but it’s fine. It’ll heal. Just take a couple weeks off, regroup, let my body heal, and honestly I would love to fight again in probably May.”
With Pennington sporting a five-fight win streak she now seems to be in position to get a title fight, and a second shot at champion Amanda Nunes.
“I don’t feel like I should be denied anymore. 5-fight win streak, I mean, how much more are people going to keep denying me? I feel like the respect needs to be put on my name at this point. That’s (the title) is my ultimate goal. Obviously I don’t have control of it. I would love to fight for the world title before the year’s over. If that doesn’t happen then my ultimate goal is to be the #1 in the world and then start 2024 off right,” she said.
“But, I mean, I’m ready to go.”
If not the world title fight then what? Not waiting around.
“I want to stay active. I love challenges and that’s what it’s about,” she said.
Who would that be?
“Who’s #1? Who,” she asked.
The media room replied with Julianna Pena’s name.
“There you go.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Raquel Pennington above.
