Tecia Pennington, preparing for a crucial fight against Carla Esparza at UFC 307, criticizes MMA judges for previous split decision losses and advocates for open scoring to enhance fairness in the sport.
Tecia Pennington isn’t exactly a fan of MMA judges. This Saturday, she’s set to face Carla Esparza on the UFC 307 undercard. It’s a pivotal fight for both. While Esparza’s career wraps up, Pennington is desperate to break her two-fight losing streak. Those losses? Painful split decisions against Mackenzie Dern and Tabatha Ricci have left her cornered.
"The split decisions have hurt me," Pennington shared at UFC 307 Media Day. More than any punch or kick, those losses sting. "I truly believed I won those last two fights." Ouch.
Since joining the UFC from The Ultimate Fighter in 2014, Pennington has been a constant in the strawweight top-15. Despite big wins over Angela Hill and Michelle Waterson-Gomez, a title shot remains elusive. At 35, the clock’s ticking for "The Tiny Tornado." She blames the judges for her stalled title run.
"I’m still getting at it," she insists. "I feel like I’ve got one more good run in me." Determined, she believes in her skills… but there’s that pesky judging again.
"Honestly, it’s the judges who keep f*cking me," she admits bluntly. Do they ever reconsider their decisions? She wonders if they know they’ve cost her opportunities and money.
Pennington wishes for universal open scoring like Invicta FC uses—instant feedback after each round would be game-changing. But don’t hold your breath; it’s not happening in the UFC anytime soon.
Still, she’s confident about facing Esparza. "I think she’s going to be the same old Carla," Pennington predicts. Expect punches and takedown attempts, sure. But Pennington plans to counter with movement and resilience. No one’s kept her down yet, and she doesn’t see it starting now.