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UFC 307 Countdown previews bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington returns to face the division’s former title holder Julianna Pena..
UFC 307 Countdown previews bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington returns to face the division’s former title holder Julianna Pena..
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00:00At UFC 307, newly crowned bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington returns for her first title
00:13defense.
00:16The journey to the top has been a long one for the Colorado native, who has been a cornerstone
00:22of the 135 pound division since its inaugural year.
00:27When I look back on my journey, I can honestly shed tears.
00:32It's been a long 14 years in this sport.
00:37I've truly worked from the bottom to the very top.
00:41I've fallen, I've gotten back up.
00:45And just to go through that, there's no other words besides proud.
00:49Raquel Pennington, she's such a competitor, so fierce.
00:54I was given a lot of great opportunities.
00:55Oh, that is close!
00:56That is close!
00:57She's out!
00:58She's out cold!
00:59Throughout my career, I've always fought the top names in the division.
01:00Pennington's got her back.
01:01She's got it.
01:02Andrade's gonna tap!
01:03She taps!
01:04Pennington capped off an impressive run early in her career with a win over former belt
01:06holder, Misha Tate.
01:07Misha's in big trouble.
01:08There's certainly no lack of belief in Raquel Pennington's mind that she can beat the elite
01:09in this division.
01:10Earning her a title shot in 2018 against the Lioness.
01:11Pennington's got her back.
01:12She's got it!
01:13Andrade's gonna tap!
01:14She taps!
01:15Pennington's got her back.
01:16She's got it!
01:17Pennington's got her back!
01:18Pennington's got her back!
01:19Pennington's got her back!
01:20Pennington's got it!
01:21Pennington's got it!
01:22Pennington's got it!
01:23Pennington's got it!
01:24Pennington's got it!
01:25Pennington's got it!
01:26Pennington's got it!
01:27Pennington's got it!
01:28Pennington's got it!
01:29Pennington's got it!
01:30Pennington's got it!
01:31Pennington's got it!
01:32Pennington's got it!
01:33Pennington's got it!
01:34Pennington's got it!
01:35Pennington's got it!
01:36Pennington's got it!
01:37Pennington's got it!
01:38Pennington's got it!
01:39Pennington's got it!
01:40Pennington's got it!
01:41Pennington's got it!
01:42Pennington's got it!
01:43Pennington's got it!
01:44I went five rounds with her, which most people never did that.
01:48I just seen the passion within me.
01:50That is a fighter so long on her.
01:52I still pushed forward.
01:54Pints of blood coming out of her nose.
01:56So much respect for the effort of Raquel Pennington in defeat here tonight.
02:01That was the biggest mountain I had to climb.
02:03She got away from the game, needed to reset.
02:06And she's ready to start making a case for a title shot.
02:09Decided to change things as a person.
02:11Oh, look at that!
02:12Raquel Pennington was not going to be denied.
02:15And when I did that, it showed.
02:17Pennington's definitely looking better.
02:19I went on a five-fight win streak.
02:21She wants to turn back toward the top and make that a reality once again.
02:24She's topping, she's topping!
02:26Wow, gets it done!
02:28Raquel Pennington is emerging as a truly world-class contender.
02:32I got presented with the opportunity to fight for the world title again.
02:35Raquel Pennington is one of the toughest men or women I have ever met.
02:39She has rallied through adversity throughout her career.
02:42We'll see if she can break through and win the world title.
02:44I want to accomplish the ultimate goal.
02:47And so it didn't matter who was in front of me.
02:49Nice hands from Pennington. She's landing some big shots.
02:52She was dangerous, but I just feel like I was definitely the better fighter in every aspect.
02:56Oh! Oh, she's got her!
02:58She's on it. Now she needs to keep moving forward.
03:00Pennington smells blood in the water.
03:02Oh! She got clipped. Superman punch!
03:05I achieved the ultimate goal, and here I am, the sixth-ever women's phantomweight champion.
03:09No one can take that away.
03:10This is what I've been working so hard for for 14 years, and now it's here.
03:14Raquel Pennington can lay claim to a UFC world title.
03:19Before the reality of her lifelong achievement was sunk in,
03:22Pennington was already looking ahead to settle a longtime feud in her first title defense.
03:27Juliana Peña has been talking and talking and talking.
03:30She says that she will be next in the fight.
03:32Juliana, get your ass better inside the dotted line.
03:35It's been 10 years that I've been waiting for that fight.
03:41In 2013, the UFC introduced the women's phantomweight division
03:46and showcased the first all-female tournament of the ultimate fighter.
03:51It was here that the pass of Raquel Pennington and Juliana Peña would cross for the first time.
03:58All right. You've got the first pick.
04:00Juliana.
04:03Misha Tate, she chose me as the first person on the team.
04:07Raquel Pennington.
04:12I was very young, dumb, and naive, thinking that,
04:16oh, you're Team Tate. You're my buddy. You're my friend.
04:18We're living in the same room as one another.
04:21And it's like, she ain't your buddy, dude.
04:23She hates your guts. Like, she has no loyalty to you whatsoever.
04:27I tried to befriend her. It's like, okay, we're teammates.
04:29Like, let's be friends.
04:30It was tough definitely being roommates.
04:32I like to respect space, and she quickly got under my skin.
04:36It's been frustrating.
04:37It seems every morning that I'm sleeping,
04:39all I hear is Juliana blow-drying her hair and working on her makeup.
04:42Sitting there playing with vitamin bottles, just shaking them all crazy.
04:46She would stay up until like 3 o'clock in the morning drinking
04:49and hanging out with all the people in the house, and I was sleeping.
04:53I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to win the show.
04:56I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to win the show.
04:58So I don't care about staying up until 3 o'clock in the morning.
05:02Sometimes I wonder if she listens to herself speak.
05:04She said that I was a drunk on the show and would drink all the time.
05:07I couldn't make it to training sessions.
05:09It's just comical. I was at the training sessions I needed to be at.
05:13Beautiful.
05:15I was the one that won fight of the season.
05:17It was this seeded doubt that she kept creeping into everybody's head
05:22about me being a favorite.
05:24She just created all these problems for me,
05:27and it all stems with her being a backstabbing, jealous weirdo.
05:32All those pills you take down there, you need a chill pill.
05:35I'm freaking calm.
05:37You're worked up.
05:39She's a head case sometimes.
05:41Dana at one point thought that we would match up in the finale,
05:44but going into the semifinals, I sustained injuries,
05:47and so it didn't play out that way.
05:49A laser-like focus as Juliana Peña makes her way to the UFC's octagon.
05:55And that is some serious power there,
05:57as Peña once again works Rakozy to the canvas.
06:00This is the pressure of Juliana Peña, just non-stop.
06:04She's got it.
06:05Once again works Rakozy to the canvas.
06:07This is the pressure of Juliana Peña, just non-stop.
06:11Oh, Peña working the ground and pound now.
06:14Peña now dropping heavy right hands.
06:16Pouring it on now.
06:18She's covering up, but that'll do it.
06:20Juliana Peña is your Ultimate Fighter winner.
06:24What a performance here tonight.
06:26To be able to win the Ultimate Fighter,
06:28it's something that can never be taken away from you.
06:30Instead of being this wimpy deer that they kind of pigeonholed me into,
06:35they had to take notice and realize that I was a force to be reckoned with.
06:39She is a very, very dynamic and aggressive young lady.
06:43So much potential.
06:45Driven by an unwavering desire to become a UFC champion.
06:48The Peña pressure just won't stop.
06:50I'm a finisher, you guys, and I want the belt.
06:52Peña overcame numerous injuries and setbacks
06:55during an eight-year campaign for contention.
06:57This is nasty. Absolutely dominant.
06:59When I first started in the UFC,
07:02after every single fight, I was calling for the title shot.
07:05I'm ready to fight for the title.
07:07I'm ready to go and get what's mine.
07:09I don't see anything else but the title.
07:11This question's for Dana.
07:13Where's Amanda, Dana?
07:14My fist! My fight!
07:17Stylistically, she's the best possible fight for me.
07:20Huge win for Peña!
07:22Nobody's had a tougher road in the UFC,
07:24and I want to fight Amanda.
07:25It's time for her to quit ducking.
07:26That's my fight.
07:27And so when the UFC finally gave me my opportunity,
07:31I was ready to go.
07:34Live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA,
07:37this is UFC 269.
07:40Juliana Peña says she is willing to meet Amanda Nunes
07:44head-on, meet her pressure and momentum
07:46in the middle of the octagon.
07:48She's ready to change her life
07:49with a signature, monumental, sport-changing win.
07:53I think the lines closed at 9-1.
07:55I was one of the biggest underdogs
07:56that the sport has ever seen.
07:58We've seen it time and time again
08:00when a champion underestimates a huge underdog,
08:03wild things can happen.
08:05Juliana Peña looking to spin this MMA world on its axis
08:10with a sport-altering win.
08:11Amanda Nunes looking to keep things status quo.
08:15I was taken down almost right away.
08:18Oh, she got hit with a jab there.
08:20Nunes enters, promptly lands a right hand.
08:22This is a terrible position for Peña.
08:24But I was safe and feeling like,
08:27okay, this is exactly how I thought
08:29that this fight was going to go.
08:31Dominant round for the champion.
08:33We were making her work.
08:34We want this fight exactly going this way.
08:36We want the workload, work, work, work.
08:38Go out there and take it to this girl.
08:40You got it?
08:41I said I was going to drag her into deep water,
08:43and that's exactly what I ended up doing.
08:45I knew I had to bite down on my mouthpiece
08:48and fight fire with fire.
08:49Oh, Peña's doing a good job of just getting her face here.
08:54Oh, right hand for Juliana.
08:57Oh, Juliana Peña.
09:00Juliana's done it with that left hand.
09:02Oh, and she's got to make Amanda turn.
09:04My strikes were able to land before hers.
09:07This is the type of fight she wants.
09:09Oh, big combination for Peña.
09:11Oh, she hurt her.
09:13Nunes is in trouble.
09:14Oh, my God.
09:16Once I beat it out of her on the feet,
09:18I took her down right away.
09:20Amanda's tired.
09:21Dragged down by Peña.
09:23Oh, my God.
09:24And now Peña to the back.
09:26She's got something.
09:27She did it.
09:28Juliana Peña shocks the world.
09:31That's the biggest upset in the history of the sport.
09:37No.
09:40One of my greatest victories,
09:42and it's definitely one that I'll cherish the most.
09:45I told you.
09:47Don't ever doubt me again.
09:48Willpower, strength, and determination.
09:50It will take you places.
09:52You know the Lioness will be back,
09:54and Juliana Peña probably felt like she'd have to beat her twice.
09:57And now she'll try to defend it, presumably,
09:59against Amanda Nunes.
10:06Juliana Peña making history last December.
10:09Amanda Nunes looking to, in her mind,
10:11right that wrong and regain that unprecedented status
10:16as double champion in the UFC.
10:18Going into the rematch with Amanda,
10:20I was very prepared,
10:21but when it boils down to it,
10:24I wasn't doing the right things.
10:26Oh, she hurt her.
10:28Bro, that choppy right hand is killing Juliana.
10:31I couldn't get back on track.
10:34She got hurt bad.
10:36That's that lead hand.
10:37The same punch.
10:38I had successful moments.
10:40Look at Peña, though, John.
10:41She is not discouraged.
10:42She's still going forward.
10:43I was turning the best striker in the world
10:46into a Division I wrestler
10:48because she didn't want no smoke on the feet.
10:50Beautiful takedown by Amanda.
10:52But it was too late.
10:55And that will do it.
10:57The greatest of all time came to fight tonight.
11:00And...
11:02down!
11:04One of the toughest human beings on planet Earth, Juliana Peña.
11:07After that fight,
11:08the next fight that needed to be made was a trilogy.
11:11We were one and one.
11:13I won by stoppage.
11:15You tapped the mat.
11:16You said, uncle.
11:18She won by decision.
11:20For me, it was like, I didn't lose.
11:22I just ran out of time.
11:25I wanted to make that happen.
11:26I wanted it to be the biggest fight in women's history.
11:30I was getting ready for my trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes
11:33when I broke my ribs.
11:36It was brutal.
11:38And it sucked.
11:40And they pulled me.
11:43I cost myself the trilogy.
11:45I cost myself the title.
11:47I cost myself a lot.
11:50In Peña's absence,
11:51Amanda Nunes would go on to defend her belt one last time
11:55before laying down her gloves
11:56and closing the book on a historic title reign.
12:00The vacant belt represented the dawn of a new era in the division
12:03and an opportunity for a hardened veteran to seize the moment.
12:07The 18-time UFC veteran, Raquel Pennington.
12:11With Peña returning to competition,
12:13the time is now for this longstanding rivalry to be settled at UFC 307
12:18with the women's bantamweight title on the line.
12:21When Raquel won the belt, you were not happy with the performance?
12:24It's an interim belt as far as I'm concerned.
12:26It's not the real belt.
12:27My fight with Raquel is finally here.
12:29Game of inches. Let's go, let's go.
12:32The animosity and the beef that we have
12:34is something that I hold near and dear, close to my heart.
12:38I am the uncrowned bantamweight world champion.
12:41This is a long time coming.
12:43This is another finale of who the true, real ultimate fighter is.
12:47And we're going to put it to bed on October 5th.
12:52It's a fight that I've wanted for a very long time.
12:54I feel like people are just kind of seeing Juliana for who she is.
12:58I have no idea after 11 years how we have not matched up.
13:01I plan on whipping some serious s***.
13:03The more she keeps talking and yapping,
13:05I'm excited to finally punch her in the mouth.
13:07I've definitely asked for this fight,
13:09but somehow she's avoided signing that dotted line.
13:12Love it, love it. Come on.
13:14She easily gets under my skin,
13:16and that's what makes it exciting for the fact
13:18that I get to punch her in the face soon.
13:20And relax.
13:23Who's next?
13:37Earlier this year, Raquel Pennington
13:39became the sixth UFC women's bantamweight champion.
13:48Celebrating with her wife and fellow UFC fighter, Tisha Pennington.
13:56For the first time as mothers,
13:58the couple will compete on the same night at UFC 307.
14:01Just warm your hips up first.
14:03Nine.
14:04Eight.
14:05Tisha and I met back in 2012 on Invicta Fighting Championships.
14:08During that time, we became friends.
14:10We both got signed to the UFC.
14:12We went to International Fight Week.
14:14She just got flirty that weekend,
14:16and one thing after another kind of stemmed,
14:19and here we are eight years later, married, and we have a baby.
14:22You guys stand up, mommy.
14:24For me becoming a mama, it just changed everything.
14:26It truly opened a part of me that I didn't even know existed.
14:29What color is this one, mommy?
14:31This is orange.
14:32Close to yellow.
14:34Alea just turned 15 months old.
14:36She's been in the gym since day one.
14:38She's been to multiple UFC events,
14:40and so it's just been really cool, you know, having her here.
14:43Just the motivation.
14:45The gym is tough.
14:46I get exhausted, but I can look to the side,
14:48and I can see her little face,
14:49and it's inspiring in a completely different way.
14:52For me, I love fighting on the same card as Tisha.
14:54It brings a different type of fun.
14:57We're both in camp, and we're living together.
14:59We're going to the gym together.
15:00We're coming home together.
15:01We're going back to the gym together,
15:02and it's just nonstop.
15:05It's a new mountain that I'm climbing and navigating through.
15:10It's not something that's like an inconvenience.
15:12It's something that's extremely motivating.
15:14It's really cool to go out there and be able to show Alea
15:17how strong her mamas are
15:18and the things that she can go out and accomplish
15:20with whatever you put your mind to.
15:24Bennington will extend her record-breaking resume
15:27of bantamweight fights at UFC 307
15:29when she puts her title on the line.
15:31Against fellow 135 mainstay Juliana Pena.
15:36I'm excited for this fight.
15:37This is my first title defense.
15:39There's a lot of history leading up to this fight.
15:42Felt like we were going to match up
15:43in the finale of the Ultimate Fighter.
15:45That's not what the universe had planned,
15:46and now here we are, 11 years later,
15:48on the biggest platform
15:49for the ultimate goal in the world title.
15:52All right, gang.
15:53We're going to hit your jab,
15:54and behind the jab, we're going to hit super.
15:56Boom, boom.
15:57Just like that.
15:58Juliana has the heart of a warrior,
16:00and she doesn't stop coming forward.
16:02She can be all bloodied up,
16:03but she's still going to get up,
16:05and she doesn't quit.
16:06But I'm just overall a well-rounded fighter
16:10in every aspect.
16:11I love that pace. Excellent.
16:13Step back, parallel down, into your kick.
16:16Oh, yes!
16:17I'm in my prime.
16:18It's only up from here.
16:19I'm at that peak.
16:20Let's go, champ. Nice job.
16:22This fight is going to give the world
16:23the opportunity to see that.
16:24I am a true champion, and you're in line for it.
16:27You're trying to fight again for it.
16:31But at the end of the day,
16:32you're not going to win it.
16:34Let's go.
16:35While Pennington draws motivation from her family,
16:40her opponent Juliana Pena's ambition
16:42to regain the title
16:43is also fueled by those closest to her.
16:48Hello.
16:49How are you?
16:50Being a full-time fighter and a full-time mom
16:53can present some challenges.
16:55There's definitely an extra motivation
16:57to succeed because of my daughter.
17:00What do you say?
17:02Thank you so much.
17:03You're welcome.
17:05It's a little bit of my house
17:07just being a launching pad
17:08to just get me from one place to the other
17:10and living in my car
17:11and going from one practice to the next.
17:13Bye, guys. Have a great day today.
17:14Bye, Teddy. Bye, John. Thank you.
17:17That poor girl, she probably wants to do something
17:19that is actually just for her
17:20instead of just being lugged around
17:21to all my practices.
17:26She's just the light of my life.
17:28She really is so funny
17:30and it's like having a built-in best friend.
17:32You know, you can show her things
17:34and teach her things.
17:41But I want to show her
17:42what hard work and dedication can get you.
17:48Pena's desire to succeed
17:49is shared by her longtime boxing coach
17:52who once again helps prepare
17:53the former champion
17:54to bring the bantamweight title
17:56back to Chicago.
18:00Juliana, she's a fighter.
18:03She is the epitome of a veteran.
18:06All we have to do is hardwire specific strikes
18:08that fit her personality.
18:12You saw that against Nunes.
18:14That's what makes her a veteran
18:15is that she comes in here
18:16and she does the work.
18:19The big problem with Raquel
18:20is that she's durable.
18:22If you're going to go out there
18:23and be reckless
18:24and spend a lot of energy,
18:25she's going to lie in wait.
18:28Juliana's big advantage is her power.
18:30When Juliana touches her button,
18:32she's going to know right away.
18:35It is her belt
18:36and we look at it as like
18:37Raquel's just been keeping it warm.
18:40I am confident in my preparation.
18:42I am working hard
18:43and at the end of the day,
18:48the Pena power
18:50The Pena power brings more
18:52than what Raquel has to offer.
19:02Her mouth is what keeps her relevant.
19:05And so she says a whole lot of things.
19:07She has to hype herself up.
19:10But at the end of the day,
19:11I think she needs to truly sit down
19:12and understand that
19:13I am the world champion.
19:16I definitely have more technique.
19:18I feel like I'm better skilled.
19:22I see my game plan taking dominance.
19:27I will remain champion.
19:32I will beat Raquel at UFC 307
19:37with sheer willpower,
19:40hard work, determination,
19:41grit,
19:45and desire.
19:48With determination,
19:49it will take you places.
19:51I will get my hand raised.
19:54Come hell or high water.
19:59I plan to dominate.
20:00Whether that's going to be
20:01submitting Juliana,
20:02knocking Juliana out,
20:04I truly feel like
20:05something different
20:06has unlocked inside of me.
20:09I'm excited to unleash that on her.
20:13I'll definitely be the one
20:14with my hand raised.
20:15The Bantamweights do battle
20:16at UFC 307.
20:18Before the 205ers
20:19take center stage
20:20in the main event.
20:21Alex Pereira!
20:23Welcome to the history books!
20:25Alex Pereira looks to extend
20:26his legendary run
20:28against a determined challenger
20:30looking to make history.
20:32Scary, scary dude.
20:34This man is on his own.
20:36It all goes down on October 5th.
20:38Live on pay-per-view
20:39from the Delta Center
20:41in Salt Lake City.
20:43The combat sports leader
20:44has taken over the 801!
20:48The Bantamweights
20:49are ready to go.