Salt Lake City – UFC strawweight Tecia Pennington may have a lot more in common with her opponent at UFC 307, but she wasn’t always on good terms with Carla Esparza.
“Prior to Carla having a child she wasn’t my favorite if I’m being honest,” Pennington told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“We were all young and I felt like I didn’t stand up for myself enough. She was one of the girls that weren’t as nice to me. Over the years things have been said about me, particularly my body, and she has been one of them who has in the past said I took steroids.”
Pennington (13-7) took part in The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 alongside Esparza. The two fought in the quarter-finals, but lost via majority decision.
“I think she quickly changed her mind after I had a baby. I looked the exact damn same and now she’s super nice. We just talk mom talk. It’s cool. I’m letting it go, but I do remember that. I don’t forget it,” she said.
“At one point I was the most tested athlete in the UFC. Probably been tested over 80 times. Never had an issue.”
Mom-talk indeed as the two were seen during fighter check-ins talking about their kids. For Pennington her young family has become everything she fights for.
“It’s amazing. Everything I do is for her and my wife now. Our little family. I want her to look back on this one day and just be like so proud of her moms. How strong we were, how awesome we are as people and just how great we are to her. She has a beautiful life.,” she told Cageside Press.
“She’s experienced so much in the past 16 months that she has no clue. She’s loved by many. She’s my everything.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Tecia Pennington above. She takes on Carla Esparza at UFC 307 on Saturday night.
