UFC Women’s Welterweight contender Mayra Bueno Silva was surprised she wouldn’t be facing rival Julianna Pena in her upcoming bout
Heading into UFC 297 on Jan. 20, Mayra Bueno Silva is set to square up with Raquel Pennington for the vacant Bantamweight Championship part of the co-main event. However, the 32-year-old veteran thought she might be facing a long-rumored rival instead.
Silva Surprised By Her Match-Up
Mayra Bueno Silva, a Brazillian-born brawler with an MMA record of 10-2-1 (with one no-contest) in 14 career fights, will enter the Octagon at UFC’s new big blowout as the #3 contender in the division.
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Silva says that she’s happy to be facing Pennington and receiving the title shot, but she originally thought that she would be battling it out with fellow femme fatale, Julianna Pena, instead. Unfortunately, Pena was injured and could not take on the fight.
Silva says that’s disappointing, but somewhat typical. She then pointed out that her match-up with Pena would be a bigger draw. But thus far, Pena’s perpetual health issues have postponed their pugilism.
Pena And Silva Should Happen… Eventually
That hasn’t stopped a whole LOT of trash-talking between the two ladies, who have fired off verbal missiles at each other for several months now. Fight fans have been clamoring for a clash between the two, but it likely can’t happen until sometime in late 2024. That is, if Pena can make it back to action, something that Silva has scoffed at.
“Like it or not, Julianna would be more exciting as a fight,” Silva said. “Not that Raquel is a bad athlete, but Julianna promotes fights better. Raquel is not that type of person, she doesn’t talk too much.”
“She’s the type of athlete that likes to fight, and that’s it, so I was like, ‘Damn, I’ll have to try to promote this fight on my own.’ But my total focus is the best regardless.”
“Julianna will stay injured for the rest of her career,” Silva laughed. “She doesn’t want to fight. She just wants to talk. All she does is noise. I have so much fun with her. Every time she posts something about me, it’s just funny to me. I hope this fight happens, because it will fans will have so much fun. I promise to beat the crap out of her and show who’s the boss.”
Silva’s opponent is no slouch in the cage. Raquel Pennington, 35, will pose a major threat to ‘Sheetara’ in her quest to capture the gold. She’s 15-8, with one career knockout and one win by tap out. A 145-pound Jiu-Jitsu specialist, she is capable of matching Silva in submission-style fighting.
UFC 297 will also be headlined by the men’s bout featuring Sean Strickland (28-5) vs. Dricus Du Plessis (20-2). The event will take place at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada
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