Holly Holm v Raquel Pennington: The Redemption Rematch

On Wednesday night the UFC 246 press conference between ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor and Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone kicked off the fight week fun in Las Vegas.

Rightfully so this bout is getting all the attention, but in the co-main a redemption rematch between a former champion and a title challenger should not be slept on.

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly ‘The Preachers Daughter’ Holm (12-5) and former 135-pound title challenger-Raquel ‘Rocky’ Pennington (10-7) will meet inside in octagon for a second time in their careers.

How did the first fight go?

They first fought way back in February 2015 at UFC 184 on the Rousey v Zigano card. This was Holm’s debut inside her new promotion and Pennington’s third fight after coming off The Ultimate Fighter reality series.

The former bantamweight champion Holm was 7-0 and undefeated coming into this contest and brought a lot of hype around her UFC debut.

A former multi-time boxing and kickboxing champion who had recently transitioned into mixed martial arts, would look to secure victory in her first UFC bout.

While Pennington, was looking to improve and develop herself as a mixed martial artist and her 5-4 record after suffering losses to Cat Ziagano, Leslie Smith and Jessica Andrade.

The Jackson-Wink fighter Holm, secured the victory via split decision and showed that she was at a higher level in her career, while continuing her unbeaten record and possibility for a title shot.

What has changed?

A lot has certainly changed from their first fight. Holm continued her undefeated record taking it to 10-0, defeated the most dominant women’s UFC champion of all time in Ronda Rousey. But has hit a stick or twist situation in her career, losing five out of her last seven fights to Miesha Tate, Valentina Schevchenko, Germaine De Randamie, Cris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes. Quite a resume.

While the 31-year old Pennington’s first defeat to Holm proved a turning point in her career winning four fights in a row over Andrade, Bethe Corriea, Elizabeth Phillips and the biggest of her career over former champion Meisha Tate.

Two losses at the hands of Amanda Nunes for the title in May 2018 and De Randamie set back Pennington’s plans, but has got back in the win column with a recent victory over Irene Aldana.

What’s at stake?

Both women are in a tricky spot in their careers with an even bigger emphasis on who can secure the victory second time around?

A victory for Holm, will again prove why she is one of the most feared women on the UFC’s roster and hand ‘The Preachers Daughter’ an important victory at the age of 38. A possible title shot is never too far away from the sights of the former champion.

While a victory for Pennington will help her build on her winning streak and put her back into title contention for a 135-pound title shot, which slipped out her hands in the past.