Julianna Peña recaptured the UFC women’s bantamweight (135 pounds) title with a stunning, split decision win over Raquel Pennington in the UFC 307 co-main event in Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, Oct. 5.
The 35-year-old Peña (11-5) scored a takedown in the second round, and another in the third round to rack up points on the judges’ scorecards after Pennington controlled the first round by unloading a series of quick strikes on her feet.
In the fourth round, Pennington turned up the heat, sending Peña to the canvas with a right hook.
Peña bounced back to her feet and survived the round before being continuously backed into the cage by Pennington in the fifth and final stanza.
Pennington could not finish the fight, though, and Peña was awarded the victory by a narrow margin (47-48, 48-47, 48-47 on the scorecards).
“I was pressuring her the entire time in the fifth, but I’m the one who let it go to the judges,” Pennington said after the fight.
