After earning her fifth straight win, Raquel Pennington has the reigning UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion and former adversary Amanda Nunes in her sights.
Raquel Pennington wants title shot by the end of 2023
Pennington had contested for the bantamweight belt once when she faced Nunes in 2018 in the main event of UFC 224 and lost the bout via fifth-round TKO.
A member of the UFC roster since 2014, Pennington has a 12-5 record in the promotion. Her last loss was when she lost a unanimous decision to former bantamweight champion Holly Holm at UFC 246. Since then, she has been on a five-fight win streak.
“Rocky” had her latest triumph at UFC Vegas 67 last weekend when she earned a hard-fought split decision victory over Ketlen Vieira. The American, currently ranked 13th in the division, said after the fight that its the right time that UFC gives her another shot at the title, as she deserves a rematch against Nunes.
“I don’t feel like I should be denied anymore,” said Pennington in the post fight press conference. “A five-fight win streak, 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. 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 No. 1 in the world and then start 2024 right. But, I’m ready to go.”
While waiting for her first child along with UFC strawweight Tecia Torres, Pennington plans to stay active. At 38 years old, she feels that the career of athletes is short-lived and she wants to enjoy her remaining days in the sport to the fullest.
“I want to stay active,” Pennington went on, “I love challenges, and that’s what it’s about. It doesn’t matter if it’s No. 1; it doesn’t matter if it’s No. 20. I just love challenges and as an athlete, we have a short window in all this. So I want to fight, I want to stay active, I want to do what I do, enjoy my passion, just go out there and have fun, and opportunities will continue to present themselves. Obviously the ultimate goal, give me that world title shot. Give me that No. 1 contender spot. But if they don’t want to do that, just give me somebody who wants to get punched in the face.” [H/T MMA Junkie]
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