With her five-year wait for a rematch against Holly Holm almost over, the groundbreaking MMA warrior tells us, “I think I’ve finally found the fighter that I am again.”
Back in February 2015, Raquel Pennington was tasked with welcoming one of the most discussed UFC signings in recent history to the Octagon. She was there, in the co-main event of one of the biggest cards of the year (headlined by a Ronda Rousey championship defense), to provide a decent test for former boxing champion Holly Holm in her first fight for the world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion.
In the end, Holm took a split decision victory that night. But Pennington earned herself a lot of respect from fans and analysts alike, as she pushed the pace of the fight and made the boxer’s welcome party a whole lot more uncomfortable than many expected it to be.
Almost five years later, Pennington and Holm find themselves in a nearly identical situation. Their rematch is the co-main event of UFC 246—which will once again likely be one of the biggest fight cards of the year (thanks to being headlined by Conor McGregor)—and both of them are looking to prove they can still win against the top contenders in the division.
