SUMMARY
- The co-main event of UFC 297 features a fight between Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva.
- Raquel Pennington last fought against Ketlen Vieira, which Pennington won via split decision.
UFC 297 looms on the horizon, featuring a co-main event between Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva. The event will take place on January 20, 2024, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The main card is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. ET. Let’s take a look at the headlined co-main event and break it down with our analysis of who will win the vacant Women’s Bantamweight title.
In what might be deemed one of the least anticipated bantamweight title bouts in UFC history. Featuring the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked fighters in the division, the championship is up for grabs at UFC 297 due to the retirement of Amanda Nunes. Nunes left a void that has exposed a lack of talent and star power in the 135-lbs weight class, once considered the “glamor” division for female fighters.
The rest of the fights on the UFC 297 main card include a featherweight bout between Arnold Allen and Movsar Evloev, Chris Curtis taking on Marc-André Barriault, Neil Magny against Mike Malott at welterweight, and the main event where Sean Strickland defends his Middleweight title against Dricus du Plessis.
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In Raquel Pennington’s last fight, she secured a narrow victory against Ketlen Vieira, showcasing superior accuracy in her strikes. Despite her success in striking, she encountered challenges with two unsuccessful takedown attempts and conceded control for nearly a round.
Now, she is set to face Myra Bueno Silva, who, in her last main event against Holly Holm, found herself under pressure and pinned against the cage. Despite appearing destined for a decision loss, Silva managed to turn the tables with a second-round choke. However, the win was later overturned due to the presence of Ritalin in her system.
UFC 297: Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva stats
Stats | Raquel Pennington | Mayra Bueno Silva |
Wins | 15 | 10 |
Losses | 9 | 2 |
Height | 5′ 6″ | 5′ 6″ |
Division | Bantamweight | Bantamweight |
Reach | 67″ | 66″ |
Age | 35 | 32 |
Raquel Pennington vs Mayra Bueno Silva: Fight breakdown and prediction
Raquel ‘Rocky’ Pennington stands as a seasoned veteran in the UFC arena. She has battled at the top of her division for a decade. Her track record reveals losses only to elite opponents, all of whom were former champions. Pennington adopts a forward-moving strategy, combining striking with effective cage control.
While not focused on grappling or takedowns, she excels in neutralizing her adversaries against the cage, displaying dominance through control and pressure. Boasting remarkable cardio and versatility, she proves to be a formidable force in every aspect of the fight game.
In contrast, Mayra Bueno Silva showcases her prowess as a striker with solid power and impressive kicks. She tends to press forward, unleashing strikes with aggression. While her grappling skills are commendable, wrestling appears to be a potential weakness, despite her perilous ground game. Silva showcased resilience in her last fight. She overcame a tough first round with a submission victory.
Raquel Pennington has slightly lesser striking accuracy, 51% to Mayra Bueno Silva’s 55%. Raquel also has a lesser takedown accuracy of 27% than Silva’s 50%. Mayra outranks in her takedown defense of 69% to that of Raquel’s 63%. Acknowledging Silva’s threat, it is emphasized that Pennington holds the edge in terms of experience and skill set. Analysis suggests that such a comeback victory is less likely against ‘Rocky’.
The prediction leans towards Pennington’s wealth of experience, relentless pressure, and unwavering determination as decisive factors in securing her victory. At 35 years old, Pennington’s accumulated high-level experience is unparalleled in the UFC, coupled with her cardio, meaning that this fight might go to the judges’ decision and favor Raquel Pennington.