UFC 307 outcomes: Julianna Peña claims gold once more in controversial choice over Raquel Pennington

Julianna Pena has gold round her waist as soon as once more.

Within the UFC 307 co-main occasion Saturday at Delta Heart in Salt Lake Metropolis, Peña (13-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) defeated Raquel Pennington (16-10 MMA, 13-6 UFC) by cut up choice (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) to win the promotion’s girls’s bantamweight title.

The primary spherical was carefully contest with each girls standing at distance, testing out their technical putting. The subsequent three rounds have been a bit extra clear-cut. In Spherical 2, Peña took Pennington down and managed her for a lot of the spherical in facet management.

In Spherical 3, Peña dragged the battle to the canvas once more. This time, she labored from the again with a physique lock. She tried to lock in a rear-naked choke and face crank, however Pennington fended her off till the horn.

Peña discovered success on the ft in Spherical 4, as she outpointed Pennington. That’s, till Pennington landed the primary knockdown of her 19-fight UFC profession. It was an enormous proper hand that floored Peña. Somewhat than pounce with strikes, Pennington sought a guillotine choke. Peña grabbed maintain of Pennington and acquired again to the ft.

BIG DROP BY THE CHAMP 👀 #UFC307 pic.twitter.com/6PrbI4Xs6D

— UFC (@ufc) October 6, 2024

In Spherical 5, each fighters have been visibly drained. Pennington appeared a bit sharper and more energizing and landed onerous photographs on Peña, who wobbled at one level because of an enormous punch. Peña was rather more defensive-minded within the spherical as Pennington pushed the motion.

Ultimately, it was Peña who was awarded the title by cut up choice.

The choice was extremely controversial with 25 media members scoring the bout for Pennington, one scoring it a draw, and none scoring it for Peña, in accordance with MMADecisions.com. On the time of publication, over 85 % of fan voters additionally scored the battle for Pennington.

TWO-TIME CHAMP JULIANNA PEÑA 🏆🏆@VenezuelanVixen is Champ once more after 5 hard-fought rounds! #UFC307 pic.twitter.com/ZZOh6ANqyv

— UFC (@ufc) October 6, 2024

After the battle, Peña was requested about combating Kayla Harrison subsequent. Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) defeated Ketlen Vieira by unanimous decision earlier within the night time. Peña elected to name for a trilogy vs. Amanda Nunes as an alternative. The reply visually amused Harrison, who signaled that Peña was operating.

Peña primary claimed gold in December 2021 when she defeated Nunes by submission in one of many largest upsets in UFC historical past. She then lost the title to Nunes by unanimous in July 2022. Saturday’s battle was her first since that bout.

Pennington has a six-fight successful streak snapped by developing brief in her first title protection try. She gained the title that was vacated by Nunes when she defeated Mayra Bueno Silva by unanimous decision in January.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 307 outcomes embrace:

• Julianna Peña def. Raquel Pennington via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
• Mario Bautista def. Jose Aldo via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Roman Dolidze def. Kevin Holland via TKO (injury retirement) – Round 1, 5:00
• Kayla Harrison def. Ketlen Vieira via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Joaquin Buckley def. Stephen Thompson via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 2:17
• Iasmin Lucindo def. Marina Rodriguez via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Alexander Hernandez def. Austin Hubbard via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
• Cesar Almeida def. Ihor Potieria via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Ryan Spann def. Ovince Saint Preux via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:35
• Tecia Pennington def. Carla Esparza via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Court McGee def. Tim Means via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:19

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 307.