LAS VEGAS – For as long as they’ve been professionals, UFC fighters Raquel Pennington and Tecia Torres haven’t worried about anyone but themselves and each other. Soon that will change.
That’s because Pennington and Torres, who are married, announced last month that Torres is pregnant with the couple’s first baby due in June 2023.
“It’s pretty surreal,” Torres told MMA Junkie on the red carpet at last week’s World MMA Awards. “In June we’re gonna be mommies, something that we’ve wanted for a long time now. I think the time is right.”
Added Pennington: “Just the idea that we have a little one on the way, and I have a fight coming up, a big fight coming up, it’s just super motivating. It’s encouraging, it’s exciting … it’s a one-of-a-kind feeling.”
The arrival of their first baby means life changes are on the way for both women, although they’re more immediate for Torres.
“Last November I was shredded. I was still shredded this November, but now it’s getting a little less shredded,” Torres said with a laugh. “My abs are down to one.”
Torres, 33, who’s No. 8 in the official UFC strawweight rankings, last fought in April when she dropped a split decision to Mackenzie Dern to snap a three-fight winning streak. She’s putting her career on hold during pregnancy. If all goes according to plan, Torres said she’ll start training two months after she gives birth and then hopes to book a fight four to six months after that, which would put her on a timeline to compete in the first quarter of 2024.
That’s a goal Pennington can get behind.
“I love it. I love the motivation,” Pennington said. “Not just because of our relationship, but I’ve known Tecia for years, and she’s honestly one of my favorite fighters. It’s just exciting to see her go through the journey outside of the octagon in real life. And then to come back and finish off a solid career, it’s exciting.”
For Pennington, meanwhile, it’s business as usual. No. 5 in the UFC women’s bantamweight rankings, Pennington meets No. 2 Ketlen Vieira on Jan. 14 at UFC Fight Night 217 in Las Vegas. A victory would push Pennginton’s streak to five in a row as she hasn’t lost since a January 2020 unanimous decision to Holly Holm.
If she wins, Pennington believes she’ll have a strong case for her second title shot at 135 pounds. Her first one came in 2018 when she was pummeled by champion Amanda Nunes before a fifth-round TKO stoppage at UFC 224.
“Four-fight win streak, I mean, add another one to the list, you can’t deny me anymore,” Pennington said. “You know what I mean?”
