Raquel “Rocky” Pennington, a formidable force in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), has been a professional since 2012. Starting her fighting journey on Team Tate in The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 18, she made a remarkable entry into the sport with a second-round TKO of Kim Couture.
Early Career and Challenges
Pennington holds a 2012 victory over her TUF 18 teammate, Sarah Moras, proving her mettle from the outset. However, she also experienced setbacks, such as a 2012 bout where she lost to UFC veteran Cat Zingano. These trials, however, only shaped her into the fighter she is today.
Knockout Prowess and Submission Skills
Renowned for her knockout prowess, Pennington has one win by KO and four by submission; three of these submissions include two guillotine chokes, a rear-naked choke, and a bulldog choke. In recent years, Pennington has been on a winning streak, securing 13 of her last 18 fights and six in a row.
The Origin of “Rocky”
Her nickname, “Rocky,” originated from high school, where classmates struggled with pronouncing her name. What started as “Rock-quel” was eventually shortened to “Rocky” – a name that aptly represents her tough and relentless fighting style.
UFC Bantamweight Title and Recent Successes
In 2024, at UFC 297, Pennington won a five-round unanimous decision to secure the UFC women’s bantamweight title. This victory was the latest addition to a string of successes, which included unanimous decision victories over fighters like Aspen Ladd, Pannie Kianzad, and Marion Reneau.
Challenges and Comebacks
Despite her loss to Holly Holm at UFC 246 in 2020, Pennington bounced back with a split decision win over Irene Aldana. Unfortunately, she could not continue this victorious streak against Germaine de Randamie at UFC Fight Night in 2018 and Amanda Nunes at UFC 224, where she was stopped by strikes in the fifth round.
A Strong Contender in the Bantamweight Division
However, her impressive performance against Miesha Tate at UFC 205, where she won a three-round unanimous decision, fortified her place as a strong contender in the women’s bantamweight division. Despite ups and downs, Pennington’s career trajectory has been one of resilience and determination, hallmarks of her fighter persona, “Rocky.”