The fight between Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña at UFC 307 is not only for the women’s bantamweight title but also a clash of personalities and visions for the future of the division, with Peña seeking to be its vocal face while Pennington emphasizes her consistent performance and authenticity.
The clash between Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña isn’t just for the UFC women’s bantamweight title. It’s a battle for the division’s future, at least according to Peña.
This Saturday, Pennington defends her title against Peña in the co-main event of UFC 307. Peña, known for her boldness, shocked everyone by defeating Amanda Nunes at UFC 269. On the flip side, Pennington, a stalwart of the division, clinched the vacant title earlier this year by besting Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 297.
Their personalities? Polar opposites, both inside and outside the octagon. Peña believes these differences highlight why she’s the ideal face for the women’s bantamweight division.
“I believe I want this opportunity more than she does,” Peña declared during UFC 307 media day. “When you compare us side by side, it’s clear. Raquel hasn’t been a good representative of our division. She’s avoided promoting herself and hasn’t embraced being the face of women’s MMA.”
“To me… actions speak louder than words,” Peña continued. “I want to be that person who lets everyone know I’m fighting. That’s my role, and I can do it better. That’s why I believe I’ll win on Saturday night and reclaim that gold.”
Peña held the bantamweight title from December 2021 until July 2022 but lost it in her rematch with Nunes at UFC 277. Since then, she hasn’t fought, though she was rumored to face Pennington for the vacant belt before an injury sidelined her.
Meanwhile, Pennington boasts a six-fight winning streak over four years, defeating multiple top-15 opponents. For her, stepping into the cage and fighting is crucial to representing the division.
“We all know Julianna has a Master’s in Yapology,” Pennington quipped at her media day scrum. “All she does is talk trash to stay relevant. How does she even know what I’m doing? But I’ve always stayed true to myself without all that extra nonsense.”
“Fourteen years of hard work got me here,” she added. “She calls me a terrible representative? She had one big win and then got beaten up for five rounds. Where’s the representation in that? I’m here to stay. And still.”
UFC 307 is set for this Saturday at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.