Former UFC bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington is reportedly scheduled to make her return to the Octagon at the upcoming Noche UFC event.
While discussions continue regarding a potential superfight between bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes, Raquel Pennington, a former champion, is preparing for her next fight. She will have an opportunity to reassert her claim for a title shot, nearly a year after losing the championship.
Pennington`s last fight was a split decision loss to Julianna Peña in October. Prior to that, she had claimed the bantamweight title, previously vacated by Amanda Nunes, by defeating Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 297.
Pennington`s return is expected to be on a significant card this year, facing a top contender in the bantamweight division.
Raquel Pennington Set for Noche UFC Return in San Antonio
A fight between Pennington and Norma Dumont is reportedly being planned for the Noche UFC event scheduled for September 13th in San Antonio.
Dumont`s last Octagon appearance was a victory over former title challenger Irene Aldana in September. She has recently sought high-profile matchups, building on a five-fight winning streak.
Dumont has climbed the bantamweight rankings with recent victories against Germaine de Randamie, Chelsea Chandler, and Karol Rosa. Her unanimous decision win over De Randamie was a notable performance upon her return to the weight class.
The Pennington vs. Dumont fight is expected to be a significant contender`s bout, potentially leading to a title shot while the UFC finalizes plans for Harrison vs. Nunes. Kayla Harrison recently won the bantamweight title by submitting Julianna Peña.
Noche UFC Event Features Diego Lopes vs. Jean Silva Headliner
The upcoming Noche UFC event is also set to feature a featherweight main event between top contenders Diego Lopes and Jean Silva. The outcome of this fight could potentially position the winner for a title shot in the future.
Lopes previously lost to Volkanovski by unanimous decision. Before that, he had secured victories over notable fighters including Brian Ortega, Dan Ige, and Sodiq Yusuff during his time in the UFC.
Silva remains undefeated in the UFC, with recent stoppage wins over Bryce Mitchell, Melsik Baghdasaryan, and Drew Dober. He has also earned performance bonuses for three consecutive fights.
Jack Thornley