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UFC 307 Countdown previews two title fights, as light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira looks to defend his belt against Khalil Rountree Jr, and bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington returns to face the division’s former title holder Julianna Pena.
UFC 307 Countdown previews two title fights, as light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira looks to defend his belt against Khalil Rountree Jr, and bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington returns to face the division’s former title holder Julianna Pena.
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00:00At UFC 307, the worldwide leader in combat sports returns to Salt Lake City with a title fight doubleheader.
00:11In the main event, UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Poetom Pereira
00:23looks to defend his title against fellow heavy hitter Khalil Roundtree Jr.
00:31As one of the most devastating strikers the sport has ever seen,
00:39Pereira has left a path of destruction in his wake.
00:49His legacy-defining run continues as he charges into his sixth title fight in less than two years.
00:56Looking to derail the momentum of the Brazilian juggernaut is a determined contender in Khalil Roundtree.
01:13The Las Vegas local is to date with destiny on October 5th as he looks to test his power against Poetom.
01:26Khalil Roundtree! All in indeed!
01:36All it takes is one shot from this man!
01:41And still!
01:43Oh my goodness!
01:47In the co-main event, newly crowned bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington aims for her first title defense
01:54against the former champion Juliana Pena.
01:57I definitely see this fight playing out as a war.
02:00She's going to be the one answering to my hands.
02:03And trust me, I plan on letting my hands go.
02:06I will get my hand raised. Come hell or high water.
02:10One, two, by Pena. Oh! Juliana Pena is making this a war!
02:14Huge right hand from Pennington! Oh my goodness!
02:16Raquel is exploding!
02:17The matchup is years in the making between two of the division's most decorated fighters.
02:22And the stakes will be raised when they finally meet with UFC gold on the line.
02:26She's got the bulldog choke! She's out!
02:28Raquel Pennington gets it done!
02:31She's got it back!
02:33There's it! Juliana Pena!
02:35Welcome to the world!
02:38In this episode, we take an inside look into the preparations of her headline attractions
02:42ahead of the Octagon's return to the Beehive State.
02:45Fight!
02:49Serve!
02:50Serve!
02:51This is UFC 307.
02:52We have such a card!
02:54Woo!
02:55Countdown.
03:06The UFC 307 main event
03:09will feature two fighters whose upbringing and surroundings
03:12shape their lives and careers.
03:17From modest beginnings in Brazil,
03:19UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira
03:23has become one of the sport's biggest stars.
03:29Poetan remains connected to his roots
03:32and understands the importance of the origins of his success.
03:37I've always cut my hair here.
03:40I've cut it a lot of times.
03:42And now it's there.
03:44Cutting people's hair.
03:46I'm not a professional anymore.
03:48It's a complicated situation.
03:50A lot of people might say,
03:52but Alex is a champion.
03:54This is now. My life has changed.
03:56There's not much time left.
03:58This is the owner of the gym.
04:00Congratulations, Alex!
04:02God bless you.
04:07Hey, man!
04:08What's up?
04:09Hey, Alex!
04:12Hey, hey, hey!
04:17Where's Melvin?
04:18Melvin, do you want to play?
04:20I did until the 8th grade.
04:22I started working early, at 12 years old.
04:25It's a very hard job.
04:27It's hard for an adult to do.
04:30Okay, okay, okay.
04:37I always go back to the rubber shop.
04:39I spent a lot of time there.
04:41And I worked many hours.
04:42I think about how much it helped me to have this strength that I have today.
04:47It's different from what I do.
04:49It's not what I do anymore.
04:51But it's like fighting, right?
04:52Each one has a style.
04:56Time!
04:57Call!
04:58Which one?
04:591 minute and 6 seconds.
05:02I met Alex Cuatã
05:04when I was very young.
05:0612 years old.
05:07I was his neighbor.
05:09Then I called him to help me with the rubber shop.
05:13Then we made this friendship.
05:16When I say go,
05:173, 2, 1, go!
05:21We started his career when he was little.
05:25And to know that he's here today,
05:27he's a world champion,
05:28it's a great honor for us here at the Guila Nova Rubber Shop.
05:32These jobs I did,
05:34putting my body to the test,
05:35I think it helped me a lot.
05:37How much?
05:3832 seconds.
05:40Who's going to raise my hand here, boss?
05:43Call!
05:46It was very good.
05:47I was born in the slums,
05:48I grew up there.
05:50It's a challenge, right?
05:51It's a competition.
05:54Call!
05:56But I think this was very important.
05:58Because many things happen today too.
06:00In this world, the world of fighting.
06:12Pereira's foray into combat sports
06:15saw him record a Hall of Fame-worthy career
06:17in kickboxing as a two-division champion.
06:20When I see an elite kickboxing champion,
06:22I always want to see those guys attempt MMA.
06:25Before venturing into MMA
06:27and taking the UFC by storm.
06:29One of the baddest men on this or any planet
06:32enter the former glory two-division champion,
06:35Alex Pineda.
06:36Oh!
06:37Oh my goodness!
06:38And the consequences are extreme.
06:41Oh!
06:42Any mistake you make with him,
06:44it's night-night.
06:45Oh, you heard him!
06:46Adesanya's on wobbly legs!
06:47Oh my God!
06:49Now do it!
06:50And do!
06:52Capturing titles at middleweight
06:54and light heavyweight.
06:55Oh!
06:56Alex Pineda!
06:57Welcome to the history books!
06:59Put Pereira in rarefied air
07:01amongst the greats of the sport.
07:03But it has been his aggressive attitude
07:04towards building on that legacy
07:06that has shot him into the superstar realm.
07:17This dude continues to just move the goalposts.
07:20I'm very proud of myself
07:22because it's something that doesn't come easily.
07:26Oh!
07:28I know I did a lot.
07:30I dedicated myself a lot.
07:31I stopped doing a lot of things.
07:33Jamal heels out and still!
07:35My goodness!
07:36We've talked about rapid rises,
07:38Conor McGregor, Israel Adesanya.
07:40No one's done it quite like this.
07:42Oh!
07:43Alex Pineda remains on top of the MMA world!
07:47In two and a half years,
07:48this guy has won belts in two divisions
07:49and defended them.
07:50I'm very happy to know that
07:52a lot of the things I've been doing,
07:54other people have tried,
07:56and didn't,
07:57looking at the competition.
07:59To see a guy like Alex
08:01go from being a two-division world champion
08:04to becoming one of the greats,
08:06he's a legend!
08:08As Pereira continues his dominant reign
08:10as a UFC champion,
08:12he's never forgotten where he came from
08:15and uses his success
08:17to help those in his former community.
08:21Good afternoon, everyone.
08:24I'm very happy to be here
08:26with all of you.
08:28My life is being blessed,
08:30and I want to pay it back.
08:32The cameras are here,
08:33but I'm not here to show myself.
08:34I want to encourage people
08:36to make donations for those in need.
08:38I think we'll be able to make a difference,
08:41not just in your lives,
08:42but in the lives of many people.
08:44Thank you very much.
08:47Let's go!
08:56We're in the Batistini neighborhood.
08:58This is where I was born and raised.
09:00We're going to make a donation
09:02of 1,100 basic baskets
09:04to help 1,100 families.
09:06That's what I've been doing today.
09:08It's something I've been doing for a while now.
09:12How are you?
09:15My reality was that of these people.
09:18A lot of difficulties.
09:20And I was always afraid of starving.
09:24If I can do this, I'll do it.
09:31I think my story has a global impact.
09:35Today I can see that.
09:37Of course, the people in the community,
09:39in the favela,
09:40they know what their lives are like.
09:42And they say,
09:43man, this guy has no conditions.
09:46He won everything,
09:47he got where he got,
09:48conquering the world.
09:50But I say that this is not impossible.
09:55It's very difficult.
09:56I know the difficulties,
09:57I've been through a lot.
10:00But I won everything
10:01with my dedication,
10:03my willpower.
10:06I think that made a big difference.
10:09Shama Shama.
10:10Shama!
10:11Yeah, Shama.
10:39Poetan returned just two months later
10:41to headline another marquee event.
10:44Looking to defend his title once more
10:46in a rematch with former champion,
10:48Yuri Prohaska.
10:50Poetan has become a global superstar.
10:52Wins over five former undisputed UFC champions.
10:55Can he beat Yuri Prohaska again?
10:58Yuri Prohaska will try to regain
11:00an undisputed UFC title.
11:03I already felt who he was
11:05since the first fight.
11:06One of the most destructive forces
11:08we have ever seen inside the octagon.
11:10All it takes is one shot from this man.
11:14And I was calmer because of that.
11:16Because sometimes you don't know
11:17the guy's strength,
11:18you don't know how he behaves.
11:19But since the first fight,
11:20I knew he wouldn't change for me.
11:22He got better.
11:25The rematch is upon us.
11:27I'm evolving.
11:28Because I'm new in the area.
11:30Poetan working on both legs early on.
11:33And I knew he would come.
11:35I knew I could be different.
11:38And that's what happened.
11:41Minutes before I left for the arena,
11:43my team showed a video of him warming up,
11:45which the UFC always shows.
11:47And I saw him trying to simulate
11:50the kicks I do.
11:52And I saw that it was worrying him a lot
11:55because it hurt him from the other fight.
11:57And I saw that his hand was a little low.
12:00Al is putting some steam behind these shots.
12:03Yuri looks a little tentative.
12:05Strong low kick.
12:06That one hurt him.
12:08And I started to hurt him.
12:10I kicked him in the stomach.
12:13You cannot make a mistake
12:14because when you do,
12:15he hurts you too bad.
12:17But before that,
12:18there was a knockdown
12:19in the last second of the first round.
12:24Huge knockdown right on the gutter.
12:26Round one.
12:27He was already waiting a lot
12:30for the kick.
12:31So his hand got in there
12:32more easily.
12:34He managed to recover.
12:36He went back to the second round.
12:37And I said,
12:38now is the time.
12:41I called all his attention
12:42to the lower part
12:44to try this kick.
12:45And it worked.
13:01He is something special, man.
13:03Switch kick.
13:04I saw Ambreste there.
13:05It was a very fast movement.
13:06I was able to kick.
13:07And then he fell.
13:08And still!
13:11It is Poetan's World
13:13in the UFC in 2024!
13:25For Alex Pereira,
13:26UFC 307 will provide a platform
13:28for the Brazilian champion
13:29to continue his hot streak.
13:33For his opponent,
13:34Khalil Roundtree Jr.,
13:37his first title shot
13:38represents the manifestation
13:40of a lifelong dream.
13:43When I started Not Too Long Ago,
13:44I'd see things like this
13:45as inspiration.
13:46I'd look at the two guys
13:47on the billboard like,
13:48man, one day I can be there.
13:50One day I can get my family
13:52out of struggle.
13:54Being here,
13:55being able to stand
13:56and look at this,
13:57and knowing what's ahead of me
13:58at this fight,
13:59I'm most grateful
14:00for the struggle.
14:02There's been so many moments
14:03of wanting to give up,
14:04but I stuck it through.
14:06This journey's been hard.
14:08It's made me strong enough
14:09right now
14:10to be able to stand in here
14:11in this moment
14:12in confidence,
14:13knowing that I can win
14:14and I can be the champion.
14:22The origins of Roundtree's
14:23journey to a UFC title
14:26can be traced back
14:27to a family tragedy
14:28that struck at an early age.
14:36You want attention?
14:38Yeah?
14:40When I was two years old,
14:42my father was murdered.
14:45He was a manager
14:46for Boyz II Men,
14:48New Edition.
14:50There was a time in his career
14:51where he was a personal bodyguard
14:53for Muhammad Ali.
14:54I have this plaque
14:55that was given to me
14:56from Boyz II Men.
14:58This is the record
14:59that had the interlude
15:01with my dad and I's name,
15:02Khalil, on it.
15:05At his funeral,
15:06I remember there being
15:07hundreds if not thousands
15:08of people,
15:09and when I think about that,
15:11you gotta be a certain
15:12type of person
15:13to have complete strangers
15:15and just a massive amount
15:16of people
15:17coming to your funeral
15:18to honor your life.
15:20I think the biggest thing
15:21was that I didn't have
15:23the courage
15:24to really face
15:25certain challenges
15:26because I didn't have
15:27anyone that stood there
15:29to let me know
15:30that everything would be okay,
15:31you know,
15:32that I'd come out okay
15:33in the end,
15:34so it kind of
15:35held me back a bit.
15:38That led me down a path
15:39of self-destruction.
15:42I was smoking
15:43two packs of cigarettes a day.
15:45I was drinking
15:46a lot of alcohol.
15:48I was smoking
15:49I was drinking
15:50alcohol
15:51nonstop.
15:52I was taking
15:53random prescription pills,
15:55just trying to numb
15:56all of my pain.
15:58I remember stepping
15:59on a scale and it said
16:00305 pounds.
16:02There was a night
16:03where I was
16:04trying to fall asleep
16:05and I just felt
16:06my heart doing
16:07really, really
16:08weird things
16:09that it shouldn't
16:10have been doing.
16:12And there was a moment
16:13where I thought,
16:14okay,
16:16this is the night.
16:17Like, I'm gonna die
16:18in my sleep.
16:20And that was when
16:21I started to think about,
16:22okay,
16:23what can I do
16:24to hold on to my life?
16:26And that's what drove
16:27me to start
16:28being more open-minded
16:29to things that
16:30involved
16:31fitness
16:32and health.
16:33And MMA
16:34was perfect for me.
16:45After discovering
16:46his newfound path
16:47in MMA,
16:51Roundtree would make
16:52his mark in the sport
16:58and eventually
16:59land a contract
17:00with the UFC.
17:01Here is the
17:02uber-talented
17:03Khalil Roundtree Jr.
17:05And to think that
17:06this man right here
17:07used to weigh
17:08300 pounds.
17:10He's super talented
17:11and just a really
17:12explosive
17:13and dynamic
17:14presence
17:15in the light
17:16division.
17:17I want to be a champion.
17:19Oh!
17:20Khalil Roundtree Jr.
17:21closes the show!
17:24When I first
17:25started fighting
17:26in the UFC,
17:27brick by brick,
17:28he's building
17:29his career.
17:30In the beginning,
17:31it was really about me
17:32finding my stride,
17:33finding my placement.
17:34Oh!
17:35Massive knee
17:36from Roundtree Jr.
17:37So,
17:38the beginning of my
17:39career was very
17:40up and down.
17:41For Khalil Roundtree,
17:42it's all about
17:43finding his
17:44comfort zone.
17:46And it wasn't until
17:47a few years ago
17:48where things really
17:49started to click for me
17:50and, like, I know
17:51who I am.
17:53How about
17:54Khalil Roundtree Jr.?
17:55He's battled a lot of
17:56demons to realize
17:57this type of UFC success.
17:58Oh!
17:59Left hand chops
18:00Anders!
18:01Here I am!
18:02I'm here!
18:03Let's go!
18:04He discovered
18:05the self-belief
18:06that you need
18:07in order to take
18:08this thing to the
18:09next level.
18:10Oh!
18:11Stop!
18:12I'm not hiding anymore.
18:13I'm dealing
18:14with my fear
18:15I've never seen
18:16Khalil Roundtree
18:17look better.
18:18He's a new fighter.
18:19He's a different man.
18:20He's got nothing
18:21left to lose emotionally.
18:22That is going to
18:23allow him to just
18:24be free inside
18:25of the octagon.
18:26I don't want to
18:27wait until I'm a champion
18:28to be able to
18:29tell my story.
18:30I just want to be
18:31able to share that
18:32and, like,
18:33and really,
18:34like,
18:35inspire people.
18:36Winning the title
18:37would be
18:38proof to me
18:39that anything
18:40is possible.
18:41Not long ago,
18:42I'm depressed,
18:43ending my life
18:44turned to fighting,
18:45have the slightest
18:46belief that
18:47if I do this
18:48and if I work hard
18:49at this,
18:50I can be a champion.
18:51Sticking to that belief
18:52and now here I am.
18:53I just felt this!
18:54I'm in the top 10 now
18:56and the only thing
18:57that I want to do
18:58is fight Alex Barrera.
19:00October 5th
19:01for UFC 307.
19:03Alex Barrera will look
19:04to defend his
19:05light heavyweight belt
19:06against Khalil Roundtree.
19:07I can't wait
19:08to prove myself
19:09right.
19:10Khalil
19:11Roundtree
19:13Jr.
19:26On the back of a
19:27five-fight win streak,
19:28light heavyweight powerhouse
19:30Khalil Roundtree Jr.
19:31will get his first
19:32title opportunity
19:33at UFC 307.
19:35What stands between
19:36Roundtree and his dream
19:37is one of the most
19:38devastating strikers
19:39the division has ever seen.
19:41Current 205-pound champion,
19:43Alex Barrera.
19:47In preparation for the
19:48daunting challenge
19:49Poetan presents,
19:50the Las Vegas local
19:51has once again teamed up
19:52with longtime head coach,
19:54John Wood.
19:56He gets hit a lot,
19:57just not hard
19:58because people are so afraid
20:00because he's got stuff
20:01coming on those counters.
20:03But if we go through that,
20:05we'll get him.
20:07Guaranteed.
20:10Khalil really is
20:11a unique fighter.
20:13Yes.
20:14The hardest hitting person
20:15I've ever worked with.
20:18Those hurt my hands
20:19through the paddles.
20:21He knows that he can
20:22finish any human
20:23on the planet.
20:24Good, yep.
20:25That was kind of the thing
20:26before that we relied on
20:27where now,
20:29we're adding the technique
20:30and the tactics
20:31to be able to do that
20:32at the highest levels.
20:33We've got to give him
20:34respect.
20:35But,
20:36we've got to touch him.
20:37And you can.
20:39And that's where he's
20:40really growing as a fighter.
20:42It's not just the talent
20:43and the raw,
20:44the power and the ability,
20:45but where and how
20:46to use it.
20:47It's just coming together
20:48really well
20:49at the right time.
20:50Throw me in a fire
20:51when the bell rings.
20:52And he's going to press
20:53and he's going to try
20:54to punk you.
20:55He's going to try
20:56to come after you.
20:57He's got the death touch.
20:58So do you.
20:59Khalil's going to be
21:00the new boogeyman
21:01after this
21:02because I truly believe
21:03he's going to finish Alex.
21:04Yes.
21:06Preparing for Alex
21:07is definitely different
21:08than any other opponent.
21:10I'm naturally a striker
21:11and so is Alex.
21:12Yeah, yeah.
21:14So,
21:15I get to spend more time
21:16focusing on the skills
21:17that I enjoy
21:18and sharpening those
21:20and just making sure that
21:21they're primed
21:22when it's time to go.
21:24Time, relax.
21:32As he prepares
21:33for his third title fight
21:34of 2024,
21:36a return to his hometown
21:37in Brazil
21:38allowed the champion
21:39Alex Pereira
21:41to reconnect with those
21:42that have supported him
21:43since the start
21:44of his incredible journey.
22:09Alex's biggest strength
22:10is his heavy hand.
22:11That's really his strength.
22:15But Alex's biggest strength
22:16is undoubtedly
22:17his intelligence.
22:31The biggest proof of this
22:32is that he was a guy
22:33who dominated in one sport.
22:37He went to the biggest event
22:38of another sport
22:41and you can see
22:42that today he's a complete guy.
22:45Alex is a striker.
22:46Khalil has the differential
22:47of a striker.
22:51And Alex has the distance.
22:52But Alex knows how to
22:53hit the short as well.
22:54That's the differential.
22:55I believe it ends
22:56with an Alex knockout.
22:58This man is the specialist
22:59of specialists
23:01when it comes to striking.
23:03Khalil is a dangerous fighter,
23:04an experienced guy,
23:06a strong guy,
23:07aggressive.
23:09But I'm going to use
23:10my intelligence,
23:11my experience.
23:20It's hard to fight
23:21with Canhoto.
23:22Theoretically,
23:23it's always harder
23:25because we don't fight
23:26with Canhoto often.
23:28But of course,
23:29I'm always evolving
23:31and I've always looked
23:32for how to fight
23:33better with Canhoto.
23:34So I'm developing that.
23:35I already did that
23:36with Jamal
23:37and it worked out very well.
23:42So I think
23:44I can do something
23:45that can surprise him.
24:00With more knockout wins
24:01than any other light heavyweight
24:02on the UFC roster,
24:03confidence is running high
24:04within the Khalil Roundtree camp
24:06and the belief
24:07that he has what it takes
24:08to overcome the daunting task
24:09that lies ahead.
24:11One of the things
24:12that we see
24:13in the light heavyweight division,
24:14they kind of have
24:15more of a prodding,
24:16big man approach.
24:18We're going to do
24:19some sling stuff today, right?
24:20So everything's here
24:21and coming.
24:22And then we're going to
24:23actually get in front.
24:24With the Motul bar,
24:25we're going to fire.
24:26And with Khalil,
24:27his big advantage is
24:28speed.
24:30Beautiful.
24:31Quality work.
24:33Good.
24:34We all know he has the power.
24:35Good, really nice.
24:36If he touches you once,
24:37it could be ended right there.
24:40There you go.
24:43Good, that's it.
24:44But being able to utilize
24:45that speed as well
24:46is such an advantageous
24:47piece for us.
24:48I don't think he's going to
24:49realize how quick you are.
24:50In no doubt.
24:52He really believes
24:53that he is an elite fighter
24:54who can win this belt.
24:56I believe in myself.
24:58I finally got to a point
24:59where I was able
25:00I finally got to a point
25:01to where I know
25:02exactly who I am.
25:03I know what I'm capable of.
25:04I know what I'm ready for.
25:07This is something
25:08that I'm absolutely ready for.
25:14I couldn't ask for a bigger,
25:15better moment.
25:17A main event
25:18with Alex Pejeta
25:19fighting for a title.
25:20This is perfect.
25:26To be in this moment now,
25:27it's a dream come true.
25:31I don't think anybody
25:32expects 25 minutes.
25:34If it is,
25:35we're ready for it.
25:36But the reality is
25:37we're all on pins and needles
25:38because we know
25:39that this could end so fast.
25:45I do want to be known
25:46as more dangerous
25:48and more of a boogeyman
25:50than Alex.
25:51Scary, scary dude.
25:53Right now.
25:54Give me 20.
25:55You got more in you.
25:57I win UFC 307
26:00by knockout.
26:01It's a serious,
26:02light heavyweight
26:03on the rise.
26:04That's the only way
26:05that this fight ends.
26:19It is Poetan's world.
26:21It must be jarring,
26:22the power that he hits you with.
26:30This dude
26:31continues to raise the bar.
26:33I believe we are going to see
26:35an amazing matchup.
26:51At UFC 307,
26:53newly crowned
26:54bantamweight champion
26:55Raquel Pennington
26:56returns for her
26:57first title defense.
27:00The journey to the top
27:01has been a long one
27:02for the Colorado native,
27:05who has been a cornerstone
27:06of the 135-pound division
27:09since its inaugural year.
27:12When I look back on my journey,
27:13I can honestly shed tears.
27:16It's been a long 14 years
27:18in this sport.
27:21I've truly worked
27:22from the bottom
27:23to the very top.
27:25I've fallen,
27:26I've gotten back up.
27:29And just to go through that,
27:32there's no other words
27:33besides proud.
27:34Raquel Pennington,
27:35she's such a competitor.
27:37So fierce.
27:38I was given a lot of
27:39great opportunities.
27:40Oh, that is close!
27:41That is close!
27:42She's out!
27:43She's out cold!
27:45Throughout my career,
27:46I've always fought
27:47the top names
27:48in the division.
27:49Pennington's got her back.
27:50She's got it.
27:51Andrade's gonna tap!
27:52She taps!
27:54Pennington capped off
27:55an impressive run
27:56early in her career
27:57with a win over
27:58former belt holder
27:59Misha Tate.
28:00Misha's in big trouble.
28:01There's certainly
28:02no lack of belief
28:03in Raquel Pennington's mind
28:05that she can beat
28:06the elite in this division.
28:08Earning her a title shot
28:09in 2018
28:11against the lioness
28:12Amanda Nunes.
28:14Raquel Pennington,
28:15she has put herself
28:16in position to put forth
28:17the best performance
28:18of her life.
28:19I went to Brazil,
28:20I fought in Amanda's backyard.
28:21Pennington has emerged
28:22as a world-class contender.
28:24I feel like that fight
28:25really showed my heart
28:26and the warrior inside of me.
28:27Good right hand
28:28over the top by Pennington.
28:29I went five rounds with her,
28:31which most people
28:32never did that.
28:34I just seen the passion
28:35within me.
28:36That is a fighter
28:37so long on heart.
28:38I still pushed forward.
28:39Pints of blood
28:40coming out of her nose.
28:41So much respect
28:43for the effort
28:44of Raquel Pennington
28:45in defeat here tonight.
28:46That was the biggest
28:47mountain I had to climb.
28:48She got away from the game,
28:49needed to reset.
28:51And she's ready
28:52to start making a case
28:53for a title shot.
28:54Decided to change things
28:55as a person.
28:56Oh, look at that.
28:57Raquel Pennington
28:58was not gonna be denied.
29:00And when I did that,
29:01it showed.
29:02Pennington's definitely
29:03looking better.
29:04I went on a
29:05five-fight win streak.
29:06She wants to turn back
29:07toward the top
29:08and make that a reality
29:09once again.
29:10She's topping,
29:11she's topping.
29:12Wow, gets it done.
29:13Raquel Pennington
29:14is emerging
29:15as a truly
29:16world-class contender.
29:17I got presented
29:18with the opportunity
29:19to fight for the
29:20world title again.
29:21Raquel Pennington
29:22is one of the toughest
29:23men or women
29:24I have ever met.
29:25She has rallied
29:26through adversity
29:27throughout her career.
29:28We'll see if she can
29:29break through
29:30and win the world title.
29:31I want to accomplish
29:32the ultimate goal.
29:33And so,
29:34it didn't matter
29:35who was in front of me.
29:36Nice hands from Pennington.
29:37She's landing some big shots.
29:38She was dangerous,
29:39but I just feel like
29:40I was definitely
29:41the better fighter
29:42in every aspect.
29:43Oh!
29:44Oh, she's got her.
29:45She's on it.
29:46Now she needs
29:47to keep moving forward.
29:48Pennington smells
29:49blood in the water.
29:50Oh!
29:51She got clipped.
29:52Superman punch.
29:53I achieved the ultimate goal
29:54of becoming
29:55the world champion.
29:56No one can take that away.
29:57This is what I've been
29:58working so hard for
29:59for 14 years,
30:00and now it's here.
30:01Raquel Pennington
30:02can lay claim
30:03to a UFC world title.
30:05Before the reality
30:06of her lifelong achievement
30:07at some camp,
30:08Pennington was already
30:09looking ahead
30:10to settle a longtime feud
30:11in her first title defense.
30:13Juliana Pena
30:14has been talking
30:15and talking and talking.
30:16She says that she
30:17will be next in the fight.
30:18Juliana,
30:19get your ass better
30:20inside the dotted line.
30:21It's been 10 years
30:22that I've been waiting
30:23for this moment.
30:28In 2013,
30:29the UFC introduced
30:30the women's
30:31bantamweight division
30:32and showcased
30:33the first all-female tournament
30:34of the ultimate fighter.
30:37It was here
30:38that the pass
30:39of Raquel Pennington
30:40and Juliana Pena
30:41would cross
30:42for the first time.
30:44All right.
30:45You've got the first pick.
30:46Juliana.
30:50Misha Tate,
30:51she chose me
30:52as the first person
30:53on the team.
30:54Raquel Pennington.
30:59I was very
31:00young,
31:01dumb,
31:02and naive
31:03thinking that,
31:04oh, you're Team Tate.
31:05You're my buddy.
31:06You're my friend.
31:07We're living in the same
31:08room as one another.
31:09And it's like,
31:10she ain't your buddy, dude.
31:11She hates your guts.
31:12Like, she has no loyalty
31:13to you whatsoever.
31:14I tried to befriend her.
31:15It's like,
31:16OK, we're teammates.
31:17Like, let's be friends.
31:18It was tough
31:19definitely being roommates.
31:20I like to respect space
31:21and she quickly
31:22got under my skin.
31:24It's been frustrating.
31:25It seems every morning
31:26that I'm sleeping,
31:27all I hear is Juliana
31:28blow-drying her hair
31:29and working on her makeup.
31:30Sitting there playing
31:31with vitamin bottles,
31:32just shaking them all crazy.
31:34She would stay up
31:35until like 3 o'clock
31:36in the morning
31:37drinking and hanging out
31:38with all the people
31:39in the house.
31:40And I was sleeping.
31:41I'm not here
31:42to make friends.
31:43I'm here to win the show.
31:44So I don't care
31:45about staying up
31:46until 3 o'clock
31:47in the morning.
31:48Sometimes I wonder
31:49if she listens
31:50that I was a drunk
31:51on the show
31:52and would drink all the time.
31:53I couldn't make it
31:54to training sessions.
31:55It's just comical.
31:56I was at the training sessions
31:57that I needed to be at.
31:59Beautiful.
32:00I was the one
32:01that won Fight of the Season.
32:07It was this
32:08seeded doubt
32:09that she kept creeping
32:10into everybody's head
32:12about me being a favorite.
32:14She just created
32:15all these problems for me
32:16and it all stems
32:17with her being
32:18a backstabbing
32:20jealous weirdo.
32:21All those pills
32:22you take down there,
32:23you need a chill pill.
32:24I'm freaking calm.
32:26You're worked up.
32:28Ugh.
32:29She's a head case sometimes.
32:30Ugh.
32:32Dana at one point
32:33thought that we would
32:34match up in the finale,
32:35but going into
32:36the semifinals,
32:37I sustained injuries
32:38and so it didn't
32:39play out that way.
32:40A laser-like focus
32:42as Juliana Peña
32:43makes her way
32:44to the UFC's octagon.
32:46And that is
32:47some serious power there
32:49as Peña once again
32:50works Roccozzi
32:51to the canvas.
32:52This is the pressure
32:53of Juliana Peña
32:54just non-stop.
32:56Oh, Peña
32:57working the ground
32:58and pound now.
32:59Peña now dropping
33:00heavy right hands.
33:01Pouring it on now.
33:03She's covering up,
33:04but that'll do it.
33:05Juliana Peña
33:06is your Ultimate Fighter winner.
33:08What a performance
33:09here tonight.
33:11To be able to win
33:12the Ultimate Fighter,
33:13it's something that can
33:14never be taken away from you.
33:15Instead of being
33:16this wimpy deer
33:18that they kind of
33:19pigeonholed me into,
33:20they had to take notice
33:22and realize that
33:23I was a force
33:24to be reckoned with.
33:25She is a very,
33:26very dynamic
33:27and aggressive young lady.
33:28So much potential.
33:30Driven by an
33:31unwavering desire
33:32to become a UFC champion.
33:33The Peña pressure
33:34just won't stop.
33:35I'm the finisher,
33:36you guys,
33:37and I want the belt.
33:38Peña overcame
33:39numerous injuries
33:40and setbacks
33:41during an eight-year
33:42campaign for contention.
33:43This is nasty.
33:44Absolutely dominant.
33:45When I first started
33:46in the UFC,
33:48after every single fight,
33:49I was calling
33:50for the title shot.
33:51I'm ready to fight
33:52for the title.
33:53I'm ready to go
33:54and get what's mine.
33:55I don't see anything else
33:56but the title.
33:57This question's for Dana.
33:58Where's Amanda, Dana?
34:02Stylistically,
34:03she's the best possible
34:04fight for me.
34:05Huge win for Peña.
34:07Nobody's had a tougher
34:08road in the UFC,
34:09and I want to fight Amanda.
34:10It's time for her
34:11to quit ducking.
34:12That's my fight.
34:13And so when the UFC
34:14finally gave me
34:15my opportunity,
34:16I was ready to go.
34:19Live from T-Mobile Arena
34:20in Las Vegas,
34:21Nevada, USA,
34:22this is UFC 269.
34:25Juliana Peña
34:26says she is willing
34:27to meet Amanda Nunes
34:29head-on,
34:30meet her pressure
34:31and momentum
34:32in the middle of the octagon.
34:33She's ready to change
34:34her life with a
34:35signature,
34:36monumental,
34:37sport-changing win.
34:38I think the lines
34:39closed at 9-1.
34:40I was one of the
34:41biggest underdogs
34:42that the sport has ever seen.
34:43We've seen it
34:44time and time again
34:45when a champion
34:46underestimates
34:47a huge underdog
34:48while things can happen.
34:51Juliana Peña
34:52looking to spin
34:53this MMA world
34:54on its axis
34:55with a sport-altering win.
34:57Amanda Nunes
34:58looking to keep
34:59things status quo.
35:00I was taken down
35:01almost right away.
35:04Oh, she got hit
35:05with a jab there.
35:06Nunes enters,
35:07poppy lands a right hand.
35:08This is a terrible
35:09position for Peña.
35:10But I was safe
35:11and feeling like
35:12OK, this is exactly
35:13how I thought
35:14that this fight
35:15was going to go.
35:16Dominant round
35:17for the champion.
35:18We were making her work.
35:19We want this fight
35:20exactly going this way.
35:21We want the workload.
35:22Work, work, work.
35:23Go out there
35:24and take it to this girl.
35:25You got it?
35:26I said I was going to
35:27drag her into deep water
35:28and that's exactly
35:29what I ended up doing.
35:30I knew I had to
35:31bite down on my mouthpiece
35:32and fight fire with fire.
35:34Oh, Peña's doing
35:35a good job
35:36of just getting
35:37in her face here.
35:40Oh, right hand
35:41for Juliana.
35:42Oh, Juliana Peña.
35:44Juliana stunner
35:45with that left hand.
35:46Oh, this is going
35:47to make Amanda turn.
35:48My strikes were able
35:49to land before hers.
35:51This is the type
35:52of fight she wants.
35:53Oh, what a big combination
35:55for Peña.
35:56Oh, she hurt her.
35:57Nunes is in trouble.
35:59Oh, my God.
36:00Once I beat it out
36:01of her on the feet,
36:02I took her down right away.
36:04Amanda's tired.
36:05Oh, dragged down by Peña.
36:07Oh, my God.
36:08And now Peña
36:09to the back.
36:10She's got time.
36:11She's in.
36:12Juliana Peña
36:14shocks the world.
36:16That's the biggest upset
36:18in the history of the sport.
36:22No.
36:25One of my greatest victories,
36:27and it's definitely one
36:28that I'll cherish the most.
36:30I told you,
36:31don't ever doubt me again.
36:33Willpower, strength
36:34and determination,
36:35it will take you places.
36:37You know the Lioness
36:38will be back
36:39and Juliana Peña
36:40probably felt like
36:41she'd have to beat her twice.
36:42And now she'll try
36:43to defend it, presumably,
36:44against Amanda Nunes.
36:52Juliana Peña
36:53making history last December.
36:55Amanda Nunes
36:56looking to, in her mind,
36:57right that wrong
36:58and regain
36:59that unprecedented status
37:01as double champion
37:02in the UFC.
37:04Going into the rematch
37:05with Amanda,
37:06I was very prepared,
37:07but when it boils down to it,
37:09I wasn't doing
37:10the right things.
37:12Oh, she hurt her.
37:14Bro, that choppy right hand
37:15is killing Juliana.
37:17I couldn't get back on track.
37:19Oh!
37:20She got hurt bad.
37:21That's that lead hand.
37:22The same punch.
37:24I had successful moments.
37:26Look at Peña, though, John.
37:27She is not discouraged.
37:28She's still going forward.
37:29I was turning
37:30the best striker in the world
37:31into a Division I wrestler
37:33because she didn't want
37:34no smoke on the feet.
37:36Beautiful takedown
37:37by Amanda.
37:38But it was too late.
37:40And that will do it.
37:42The greatest of all time
37:44came to fight tonight.
37:46And...
37:47down!
37:49One of the toughest human beings
37:50on planet Earth,
37:51Juliana Peña.
37:52After that fight,
37:53the next fight
37:54that needed to be made
37:55was a trilogy.
37:57We were one and one.
37:59I won by stoppage.
38:00You tapped the mat.
38:01You said,
38:02uncle.
38:03She won by decision.
38:05For me, it was like,
38:06I didn't lose.
38:07I just ran out of time.
38:10I wanted to make that happen.
38:11I wanted it to be
38:12the biggest fight
38:13in women's history.
38:15I was getting ready
38:16for my trilogy fight
38:17with Amanda Nunes
38:18when I broke my ribs.
38:21It was brutal.
38:23And it sucked.
38:25And they pulled me.
38:28I cost myself the trilogy.
38:30I cost myself the title.
38:32I cost myself a lot.
38:35In Peña's absence,
38:36Amanda Nunes would go on
38:37to defend her belt
38:38one last time
38:40before laying down her gloves
38:41and closing the book
38:42on a historic title reign.
38:45The vacant belt represented
38:46the dawn of a new era
38:47in the division
38:48and an opportunity
38:49for a hardened veteran
38:50to seize the moment.
38:52The 18-time UFC veteran,
38:54Raquel Pennington.
38:56With Peña returning
38:57to competition,
38:58the time is now
38:59for this longstanding rivalry
39:00to be settled
39:01at UFC 307
39:03with the women's
39:04bantamweight title
39:05on the line.
39:06When Raquel won the belt,
39:07you were not happy
39:08with the performance?
39:09It's an interim belt
39:10as far as I'm concerned.
39:11It's not the real belt.
39:12My fight with Raquel
39:13is finally here.
39:14Game of inches.
39:15Let's go, let's go.
39:16The animosity
39:17and the beef
39:18that we have
39:19is something
39:20that I hold
39:21near and dear
39:22close to my heart.
39:23I am the uncrowned
39:24bantamweight world champion.
39:26This is a long time coming.
39:27This is another finale
39:29of who the true
39:30real ultimate fighter is.
39:31And we're going
39:32to put it to bed
39:33on October 5th.
39:34Hut!
39:35Good.
39:36It's a fight
39:37that I've wanted
39:38for a very long time.
39:39I feel like people
39:40are just kind of seeing
39:41Juliana for who she is.
39:42I have no idea
39:43after 11 years
39:44how we have not matched up.
39:45I plan on looking
39:46some serious s***.
39:47The more she keeps talking
39:48and yapping,
39:49I'm excited
39:50to finally punch her
39:51in the mouth.
39:52I've definitely
39:53asked for this fight,
39:54but somehow she's avoided
39:55signing that dotted line.
39:56Boom.
39:57Love it, love it.
39:58Come on.
39:59She easily gets
40:00under my skin,
40:01and that's what makes it
40:02exciting for the fact
40:03that I get to punch her
40:04in the face soon.
40:05And relax.
40:08Who's next?
40:22Earlier this year,
40:23Raquel Pennington
40:24became the sixth
40:25UFC women's
40:26bantamweight champion.
40:27Raquel!
40:29Raquel!
40:33Celebrating with her wife
40:34and fellow UFC fighter,
40:35Tisha Pennington.
40:39One more, fighting.
40:40For the first time
40:41as mothers,
40:42the couple will compete
40:43on the same night
40:44at UFC 307.
40:46Just warm your hips up first.
40:48Nine.
40:49Eight.
40:50Tisha and I met
40:51back in 2012
40:52on Invicta Fighting Championships.
40:53During that time,
40:54we became friends.
40:55We both got signed
40:56to the UFC.
40:57We went to
40:58International Fight Week.
40:59She just got flirty
41:00that weekend,
41:01and one thing
41:02after another
41:03kind of stemmed,
41:04and here we are
41:05eight years later,
41:06married,
41:07and we have a baby.
41:08You guys stand up,
41:09mommy.
41:10For me, becoming a mama,
41:11it just changed everything.
41:12It truly opened
41:13a part of me
41:14that I didn't even
41:15know existed.
41:16What color is this one,
41:17mommy?
41:18This is orange,
41:19close to yellow.
41:20Aleah just turned
41:2115 months old.
41:22She's been in the gym
41:23since day one.
41:24She's been to
41:25a lot of fights,
41:26and so,
41:27it's just been
41:28really cool, you know,
41:29having her here.
41:30Just the motivation.
41:31The gym is tough.
41:32I get exhausted,
41:33but I can look to the side
41:34and I can see her little face,
41:35and it's inspiring
41:36in a completely different way.
41:37For me,
41:38I love fighting
41:39on the same card as Tisha.
41:40It brings a different
41:41type of fun.
41:42We're both in camp,
41:43and we're living together.
41:44We're going to the gym together.
41:45We're coming home together.
41:46We're going back
41:47to the gym together,
41:48and it's just nonstop.
41:49It's a new mountain
41:50that I'm climbing
41:51and navigating through.
41:52It's not something
41:53that's, like,
41:54an inconvenience.
41:55It's something
41:56that's extremely motivating.
41:57It's really cool
41:58to go out there
41:59and be able to show Aleah
42:00how strong her mamas are
42:01and the things
42:02that she can go out
42:03and accomplish
42:04with whatever
42:05you put your mind to.
42:08Pennington will extend
42:09her record-breaking resume
42:10of bantamweight fights
42:11at UFC 307
42:12when she puts her title
42:13on the line
42:14against fellow
42:15135 mainstay
42:16Juliana Pena.
42:18I'm excited
42:19for this fight.
42:20I'm excited
42:21for this fight.
42:22This is my first title defense.
42:24There's a lot of history
42:25leading up to this fight.
42:26Felt like we were
42:27going to match up
42:28in the finale
42:29of the Ultimate Fighter.
42:30That's not what
42:31the universe had planned,
42:32and now here we are
42:3311 years later
42:34on the biggest platform
42:35for the ultimate goal
42:36in the world title.
42:37All right, gang.
42:38We're going to hit your jab,
42:39and behind the jab,
42:40we're going to hit
42:41super.
42:42Boom, boom.
42:43Just like that.
42:44Juliana has
42:45the heart of a warrior,
42:46and she doesn't stop
42:47coming forward.
42:48She can be all bloodied up,
42:49but she's still going to get up
42:50and she doesn't quit.
42:52But I'm just overall
42:53a well-rounded fighter
42:55in every aspect.
42:57I love that pace.
42:58Excellent.
42:59Step back.
43:00Parry it down.
43:01Into your kick.
43:02Oh, yes.
43:03I'm in my prime.
43:04It's only up from here.
43:05I'm at that peak.
43:06Let's go, champ.
43:07Nice job.
43:08This fight is going to give
43:09the world the opportunity
43:10to see that I am
43:11a true champion,
43:12and you're in line for it.
43:13You're trying to fight
43:14again for it.
43:16But at the end of the day,
43:17you're not going to win it.
43:19Let's go.
43:21While Pennington draws
43:22motivation from her family,
43:25her opponent,
43:26Juliana Peña's ambition
43:27to regain the title
43:29is also fueled
43:30by those closest to her.
43:33Hello.
43:35How are you?
43:36Being a full-time fighter
43:37and a full-time mom
43:39can present some challenges.
43:41There's definitely
43:42an extra motivation
43:43to succeed
43:44because of my daughter.
43:46What do you say?
43:49Thank you so much.
43:51It's a little bit
43:52of my house
43:53just being a launching pad
43:54to just get me
43:55from one place to the other
43:56and living in my car
43:57and going from
43:58one practice to the next.
43:59Bye, guys.
44:00Have a great day today.
44:01Bye, Teddy.
44:02Bye, John.
44:04That poor girl,
44:05she probably wants
44:06to do something
44:07that is actually just for her
44:08instead of just being
44:09lugged around
44:10to all my practices.
44:14She's just
44:15the light of my life.
44:16She really is so funny,
44:17and it's like having
44:18a built-in best friend.
44:19You know, you can
44:20show her things
44:21and teach her things.
44:28But I want to show her
44:29what hard work and dedication
44:30can get you.
44:35Tanya's desire to succeed
44:36is shared by her
44:37longtime boxing coach
44:38who once again
44:39helps prepare
44:40the former champion
44:41to bring the
44:42bantamweight title
44:43back to Chicago.
44:45Juliana,
44:46she's a fighter.
44:48She is the
44:49epitome of a veteran.
44:51All we have to do
44:52is hardwire specific strikes
44:53that fit her personality.
44:57You saw that
44:58against Nunes.
44:59That's what makes
45:00her a veteran
45:01is that she comes in here
45:02and she does the work.
45:04The big problem
45:05with Raquel
45:06is that she's durable.
45:07If you're gonna go out there
45:08and be reckless
45:09and spend a lot of energy,
45:10she's gonna lie in wait.
45:12Juliana's big advantage
45:13is her power.
45:14When Juliana
45:15touches her button,
45:16she's gonna know
45:17right away.
45:19It is her belt
45:20and we look at it
45:21as like Raquel's
45:22just been keeping it warm.
45:24I am confident
45:25in my preparation.
45:26I am working hard
45:27and at the end of the day,
45:33the Peña power
45:34brings more
45:35than what Raquel
45:36has to offer.
45:38Yeah.
45:40Her mouth is what
45:41keeps her relevant.
45:43And so she says
45:44a whole lot of things.
45:46She has to hype herself up.
45:48But at the end of the day,
45:49I think she needs to
45:50truly sit down
45:51and understand
45:52that I am the world champion.
45:55I definitely have
45:56more technique.
45:57I feel like I'm better skilled.
46:00I feel like I'm
46:01a better fighter.
46:03I feel like I'm
46:04a better fighter.
46:06I see my game plan
46:08taking dominance.
46:12I will remain champion.
46:17I will beat Raquel
46:18at UFC 307
46:22with sheer willpower,
46:25hard work, determination,
46:26grit,
46:30and desire.
46:36I will get my hand raised
46:39come hell or high water.
46:44I plan to dominate.
46:45Whether that's going to be
46:46submitting Juliana,
46:47knocking Juliana out,
46:49I truly feel like
46:50something different
46:51has unlocked inside of me.
46:54I'm excited to
46:55unleash that on her.
46:58I'll definitely be the one
46:59with my hand raised.
47:00The Bantamweights
47:01do battle at UFC 307
47:03before the 205ers
47:04take center stage
47:05in the main event.
47:10Alex Pereira looks to
47:11extend his legendary run
47:13against a determined
47:14challenger
47:15looking to make history.
47:20It all goes down
47:21on October 5th
47:23live on pay-per-view
47:24from the Delta Center
47:26in Salt Lake City.
47:33www.deltacenter.com