Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. The
Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight division is
looking to get back on track in 2021, with an important ranked
fight booked for February.
MMA Junkie first reported the bout between Marion
Reneau (9-6-1) and Macy
Chiasson (6-1) on Friday, and Chiasson has since confirmed the
matchup on her Instagram. The two
women ranked among the top 15 at 135 pounds will meet on the
UFC Fight Night event on Feb. 6, and it could take place either
on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, or at the UFC
Apex in Las Vegas. UFC President Dana White has hinted that the
promotion may return to Yas Island in early 2021, so this card
could be held there.
Reneau has dropped each of her last three bouts dating back to
2018, with three unanimous decision defeats to Cat Zingano,
Yana
Kunitskaya and Raquel
Pennington in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Before this
trio of setbacks, Reneau put together a four-fight unbeaten streak
with three stoppages over the likes of Sara McMann
and Talita
Bernardo, along with a draw with Bethe
Correia. “The Belizean Bruiser” has had her UFC record lowered
to 5-5-1 from this unsuccessful run, but she still maintains a high
finish rate of 89 percent, with all of her losses coming on the
scorecards.
Women’s bantamweights have so far accounted for just 22 percent of
all women’s matches in 2020 – far lower than strawweight (30.8
percent) and flyweight (42.6 percent) – and both Reneau and
Chiasson have competed once this year. The winner of Season 28 of
“The Ultimate Fighter” bounced back from her first career defeat by
taking a one-sided decision over Shanna
Young in February. Chiasson has recorded two wins by knockout,
another two by submission, and two more on the scorecards since
turning pro in October 2017.
Feb. 6 will play host to the UFC Fight Night event headlined by
Alistair
Overeem vs. Alexander
Volkov at heavyweight, although there is no official location
set. Joining this women’s bantamweight clash is another at 135
pounds when Nicco
Montano faces Karol Rosa.
A third women’s match is scheduled for the event currently as well,
when flyweights Molly
McCann and Lara
Fritzen Procopio square off.
