Inspired by wife Raquel, Tecia Pennington aims for late UFC title run: 'I can make it happen for myself, too'

SALT LAKE CITY – Tecia Pennington thinks there’s still time for her to become UFC champion.

Despite having many years and fights in the promotion with no title opportunity, Tecia (13-7 MMA, 9-7 UFC) is confident she can turn that around at age 35, just like her wife Raquel Pennington did a few months back.

Raquel, 35 at the time of winning the belt, finally captured the UFC women’s bantamweight title for the first time after 18 fights and a decade of competing under the UFC banner. This has brought hope and inspiration for a seasoned Tecia, who also dreams of doing the same.

“I’m proud of my wife,” Tecia told reporters at the UFC 307 media day on Wednesday. “I’ve been with her eight of her 14 years of her career. We both came from The Ultimate Fighter, I know what it took to get to this point, and it’s just inspiring to me.

“I’m still getting at it. I feel like I got one good run in me. I feel like I can make it happen for myself, too. I don’t know, maybe I just need to switch things up and be meaner or something. Like I have the skill. I have never been finished. I’ve never truly been beaten up or anything. I’ve fought the best of the best. It’s just timing. My coaches told me last night I keep getting better. I got like two, three more years. I want to have another kid. Just keep getting better. Let’s worry about that later. Honestly, it’s the judges that keep f*cking me if I’m being honest.”

Tecia returns to the cage this Saturday at UFC 307, taking on former champion Carla Esparza in the preliminary card. This is the same event Raquel will be defending her women’s bantamweight belt for the first time against Julianna Peña.

Tecia is coming off two consecutive split decision losses, and she intends to break out of that rut against Esparza (20-7 MMA, 10-5 UFC).

“For Carla, the game plan is to take me down,” Tecia said. “That’s her way of winning: to take me down and hold me down. I don’t see that happening. I believe I’m faster, stronger. I have really good movement, good fight IQ. We both been fighting for a long time. My striking is a lot better than hers.

“So yeah, I just think I’m going to stuff all of her takedowns, keep it striking and if she takes it to the ground, I’m fine with it. I’m not scared of her jiu-jitsu or anything like that. I think she’s a great fighter overall, but I don’t think her skills match up to mine.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.