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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.