Las Vegas, NV — New moms Raquel Pennington and Tecia Torres had baby in tow at the 2023 UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday, where they gave some updates on when you might see them in action next.
Torres (13-6) last fought in April of 2022, suffering a loss at the hands of Mackenzie Dern that snapped a three-fight win streak. She then stepped away from fighting to carry daughter Alayah Rose to term. The newest member of the family arrived on June 1.
Life with their new addition has been “Crazy, no sleep, lots of love, and lots of photos,” she told Cageside Press on Thursday.
“The Tiny Tornado,” a longtime member of the UFC women’s strawweight division, is hoping to get back in the cage no later than Spring of 2024. She’s definitely been feeling the itch, she told us.
“Oh a hundred percent. Since the first time I went to the gym while being pregnant— I cried going to the gym,” Torres stated. “I’m like, I can’t do this anymore, I can’t do it at the rate I want to do it. But I plan on getting back by Spring of next year.”
Wife Raquel Pennington is hoping to see some action before that. The women’s bantamweight contender served as a back-up for the UFC 289 title fight between Amanda Nunes and Irene Aldana, and is expected to face Julianna Pena for the title vacated after Nunes announced her retirement following that fight. A “November, December timeframe” would be perfect for Pennington, she told us.
