Raquel Pennington defeated Mayra Bueno Silva to win bantamweight title

The vacant women’s bantamweight championship bout between second-ranked Raquel Pennington and third-ranked Mayra Bueno Silva served as the UFC 297 co-main event on Saturday.  

Pennington entered the fight riding an impressive five-fight winning streak.  Bueno Silva had her submission win over Holly Holm in her last outing turned to a no contest after testing positive for a banned substance.  Prior to that win being overturned, Silva had won three in a row.

The two women met in the middle of the octagon and exchanged leg kicks.  Pennington landed a body kick and worked to get the fight to the ground.  Bueno Silva turned Pennington along the cage.  They separated and Bueno Silva delivered a calf kick.  Pennington grabs Bueno Silva’s leg but got hit in the clinch.  Bueno Silva took Pennington down midway through the opening round.

Bueno Silva took Pennington’s back.  Bueno Silva was forced to stand but stayed behind Pennington.  She dragged Pennington to the canvas and continued to stay on her back.  The opening round ended with Bueno Silva on Pennington’s back.  The first round went to Bueno Silva.  

Pennington landed her jab in the early going on the second round.  Bueno Silva pressed forward and clinched.  She delivered knees to Pennington’s legs and body.  Pennington turned Bueno Silva and separated.  Pennington connected with a combination.  Bueno Silva clinched and landed body shots.  Pennington landed a hard right hand.  Bueno Silva retreated but Pennington closed the distance and clinched.  

Pennington connected with a right hand and Bueno Silva responded with a right hand of her own.  Bueno Silva took Pennington’s back standing.  She worked to secure a rear-naked choke but Pennington defended the submission attempt.  Pennington gain top position with seconds remaining.  Round 2 was a close round.

Bueno Silva delivered leg kicks to start the third.  She clinches and the two worked for position along the cage.  Pennington delivered knees to the body.  Bueno Silva tripped Pennington but Pennington quickly got to her feet.  The two remained in the clinch midway through the frame.  

They separated with two minutes left in the round.  Bueno Silva connected with a couple of elbows.  Bueno Silva looked to get the fight to the ground but Pennington gained top position.  Pennington stood and let Bueno Silva up.  Bueno Silva delivered punches to the body.  They clinch and Pennington took Bueno Silva down.  The third round went to Pennington.  

 Heading into the fourth, Bueno Silva looked fatigued.  Pennington landed a superman punch to start the frame.  Bueno Silva landed two front kicks to the body and clinched.  They exchanged some dirty boxing.  Bueno Silva connected with an elbow.  She dragged Pennington to the canvas and took her back.  She worked to secure a rear-naked choke but Pennington escaped the choke attempt.  She turned into Bueno Silva and gain top position.  Pennington delivered punches while Bueno Silva looked for a triangle choke.  Pennington postured up and delivered a hard left hand.  The fourth round was Pennington’s.  

They touched gloves to start the final round.  Bueno Silva clinched after some close quarters fighting.  Bueno Silva goes for a leg and Pennington gained top position.  Pennington locked on an arm-triangle choke.  She advanced to the mount.  Pennington tightens up the choke but was forced to give up on it.  Bueno Silva worked her way back to fully guard with a minute left on the clock.  Pennington delivered elbows before standing.  She kicked Bueno Silva’s legs and that’s how the fight ended.  Pennington should be the new women’s bantamweight champion.  

The judges scored the fight 49–46, 49–46, 4and 9–45 for Pennington.