The UFC women’s bantamweight division will crown a new champion at
the beginning of 2024.
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Raquel
Pennington will face Mayra
Bueno Silva for the 135-pound title at UFC 297
in Toronto on Jan. 20. Multiple outlets confirmed the booking
following an initial report from Ag.Fight.
The bantamweight belt was vacated when Amanda
Nunes announced her retirement following a victory against
Irene
Aldana at UFC 289 in June.
Pennington, who came up short in her first title bid against Nunes
at UFC 224 in May 2018, enters the matchup on five-fight winning
streak. Most recently, “Rocky” garnered a split decision triumph
over Ketlen
Vieira at UFC Fight Night 214 on Jan. 14. Her resume also
includes victories against the likes of Aspen Ladd,
Macy
Chiasson, Pannie
Kianzad, Aldana, Miesha Tate
and Jessica
Andrade.
Bueno Silva appeared to have earned a signature triumph when she
submitted Holly Holm in
the second round of their clash at UFC on ESPN 49 this past July.
The result was later overturned to a no contest when it was
revealed that the Brazilian tested positive for a banned substance.
Bueno Silva claimed that the failed drug test was a result of her
ADHD medication, and it doesn’t appear to have harmed her standing
much in the promotion’s eyes. Prior to facing Holm, “Sheetara” had
been victorious in three consecutive Octagon appearances at 135
pounds.
UFC 297 doesn’t have an official or confirmed headliner at this
time. The card is also expected to include showdown between
featherweight contenders Arnold
Allen and Movsar
Evloev.