TORONTO – UFC 297 will mark a brand new chapter within the historical past of the ladies’s bantamweight division when Mayra Bueno Silva and Raquel Pennington battle for the vacant championship left behind by Amanda Nunes.
After years of dominance atop the burden class, Nunes retired from competition in June, leaving the belt with out an proprietor. Greater than six months later, a brand new champion will lastly be topped when Silva (10-2-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) takes on Pennington (15-8 MMA, 12-5 UFC) within the co-main occasion at Scotiabank Enviornment.
It will likely be simply the second time within the historical past of the division, and first time because the March 2016 bout between Miesha Tate and Holly Holm at UFC 196, {that a} 135-pound title battle won’t characteristic Nunes or Ronda Rousey. They’ve been the faces of this division since its introduction to the UFC greater than a decade in the past, and now Silva is able to take over.
“I’m the champion – I’m the chosen one,” Silva instructed MMA Junkie on Monday. “This division shouldn’t be a terrific division. The UFC shouldn’t be speaking an excessive amount of in regards to the bantamweight division. They speak about Ronda or they speak about Amanda. They don’t speak about this division. This division was an enormous division within the UFC. Now I really feel I can do that.”
Silva, No. 4 within the newest USA TODAY Sports activities/MMA Junkie women’s bantamweight rankings, is aware of she has a tough activity forward. No. 2 Pennington has extra fights than anybody within the historical past of the division, and he or she has title fight experience on her resume within the type of a Might 2018 loss to Nunes.
The Brazilian is giving her opponent the last word respect going into UFC 297 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+), however Silva, 32, is assured she has a superior ability set to Pennington, 35, and it’ll present contained in the octagon.
“She has good boxing, she has a great clinch – she’s robust,” Silva stated. “She keep within the high 5 for a very long time. However I consider I’m higher than her in all the pieces. My jiu-jitsu is best, my boxing is best, my wrestling is best, however she’s very robust. She’s very harmful.
“Her fights are nice fights, however they’re not very thrilling. I consider my fashion is completely different. My fashion is extra harmful and thrilling for everyone. I promise I’ll give an enormous present.”
Silva stated she’s absolutely locked in on the victory at UFC 297, however it’s arduous to disregard what might presumably come after that. The UFC is predicted to return to her native Brazil for a pay-per-view occasion in Rio on Might 4, and Silva stated it could be a dream to try her first protection on that card.
“My focus now could be on Saturday night time,” Silva stated. “However in fact, once I win, I wish to battle in Brazil.”
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