For the second consecutive occasion, the UFC women’s bantamweight title will be defended on Canadian soil.
Following the retirement of Amanda Nunes at UFC 289 in Vancouver earlier this year, the vacant title will be on the line when Raquel Pennington (15-8) meets Mayra Bueno Silva (10-2-1, 1NC) at UFC 297 on January 20, 2024.
Though not yet officially announced, multiple sources have confirmed to Cageside Press that the event is set for the ScotiaBank Arena in Toronto, Ontario.
Ag.Fight was first to report news of Pennington vs. Silva joining the card.
Raquel Pennington has challenged for gold once before, in a disastrous title shot against Nunes that had many calling for her corner to throw in the towel prior to the end of the fight. Since that 2018 meeting with “The Lioness,” Pennington is 6-2 — and currently sits on a five-fight win streak.
“Rocky” served as a back-up for Nunes vs. Irene Aldana at UFC 289.
Silva would be on a four-fight win streak of her own, were it not for a victory over Holly Holm being overturned due to unauthorized use of ADHD medication. Still, having won three fights prior to that and with the infraction being more of a technicality, she’s landed herself in the biggest fight of her career in Toronto.
Per a report by Ariel Helwani, there’s a chance that the rematch between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira could end up headlining the card, which would make Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva the co-main event. Those plans have not yet been finalized, however.
UFC 297 is currently stacked with Canadian talent, with the following match-ups reported for the event:
- Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva — for the vacant UFC women’s bantamweight championship
- Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev
- Brad Katona vs. Garrett Armfield
- Gillian Robertson vs. Polyana Viana
- Serhiy Sidey vs. Ramon Taveras
- Chris Curtis vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
- Malcolm Gordon vs. Jimmy Flick
- Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott
- Yohan Lainesse vs. Sam Patterson
