The co-main event for UFC 297 is a women’s bantamweight title clash. Raquel Pennington will take on Mayra Bueno Silva for the belt. It is the first women’s bantamweight title clash without Amanda Nunes since 2016. It looks to be an exciting contest as both women will put on a competitive clash.
Raquel Pennington
Pennington is an impressive competitor and has performed well in the UFC. If Pennington wins, she will join the list of great women who have held the title. Legends like Holly Holm, Ronda Rousey, and Nunes. Pennington has faced Nunes for the belt in 2018. Yet, she lost that clash by knockout in the fifth round. The American is coming into the fight with a record of 15-9 with five finishes. She is coming into the battle riding a four-fight winning streak. Pennington will look to climb to the top of the mountain and clinch the belt.
What Unfolded
Silva hopes to follow in Nunes’ footsteps and give Brazil another champion. The 32-year-old trains out of the famous American Top Team Gym. American Top Team has had some tremendous athletes coming out of there. Dustin Poirier, Jorge Masvidal, and Robbie Lawler are only a few names from the gym. Furthermore, Nunes did most of her fight camps in Florida. It shows that the coaches have experience at the top of the division. The Brazilian, known for her striking and submission game, can compete with the best by mixing it up. Silva enters the fight with a professional record of 10-2-1 with eight finishes. She was on a three-fight winning streak before her no-contest with Holly Holm. Silva has the skills to capture the belt. Then the question is, can she capitalise on this opportunity?
Both women will put it all on the line to get the gold. They will try to showcase the best of their abilities in Canada.
Bueno Silva dominated the first round, being very accurate and strategic with her approach. She secured the back and threatened submissions numerous times.
In the second Silva went back to exactly where she found success and initiated the clinch against the cage looking to transition to a dominate position. Pennington landed several hard shots, earning respect and looked to have dazed Buneo Silva. However, the round ended with Buneo Silva threating the submission once again.
Buneo Silva gets straight back to controlling Pennington against the cage hunting for a takedown. The relentless pace from Silva caught up with her and its clear her cardio began to fade due to the multipe failed takedowns. As the round continued, Pennington finished strong and took the third.
Pennington continues where she left off landing a superman punch straight of the bad. The fight returns to the cage with Buneo Silva desperate to take Pennington to the canvas, eventually getting it there and sinking in a rear-naked-choke, which Pennington once again escapes.
Pennington proved to be the stronger and more experienced fighter over 25-minutes, and grinded out the forth and fifth.
Official result: Raquel Pennington def. Mayra Bueno Silva by unanimous decision.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
