Tecia Torres

Mixed martial arts career

Early career Pennington started her amateur mixed martial arts career in 2011. She won each of her seven bouts, obtaining 115-pound titles in MMA Solutions, US Freedom Fighter Championship and American Battle Championships.

In 2012, Pennington moved to professional mixed martial arts and signed with Invicta Fighting Championships.

Invicta Fighting Championships Pennington made her professional and promotional debut against Kaiyana Rain on October 6, 2012, at Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama. She won via unanimous decision.

Pennington faced Paige VanZant on January 5, 2013, at Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt, winning on all judges' score cards. She then won a unanimous decision over Rose Namajunas on July 13, 2013, at Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg. Her final bout of 2013 was against Felice Herrig on December 7, 2013, at Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith. She won via unanimous decision.

The Ultimate Fighter

In December 2013, Pennington was announced as one of 11 women signed by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for its newly created strawweight division. It was also announced that she would compete as a cast member on The Ultimate Fighter reality series, as part of a tournament to crown the inaugural strawweight champion. In the season premiere of The Ultimate Fighter, Pennington was selected by Team Melendez with the second pick. Third-ranked Pennington was matched against #14 Randa Markos. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Pennington was the overall no. 3 seed in the tournament and picked second by coach Gilbert Melendez. She faced Randa Markos in the preliminary round of the show. In a surprise upset, Pennington lost the fight via unanimous decision over three rounds. She, however, was allowed back into the tournament when Justine Kish injured her knee in training. She was transferred to the team run by Anthony Pettis and defeated Bec Rawlings in the preliminary round by unanimous decision. She faced Carla Esparza in the quarter-finals and lost via majority decision in two rounds.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Pennington made her UFC debut against fellow Ultimate Fighter competitor Angela Magaña at The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale on December 12, 2014. She won the fight via dominant unanimous decision, out-striking Magaña two-to-one over the course of three rounds.

Pennington next faced TUF 20 alum Angela Hill on June 13, 2015, at UFC 188. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Pennington was next expected to face former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Michelle Waterson at UFC 194. However, Waterson pulled out of the bout on November 24, 2015, citing a knee injury. She was replaced by promotional newcomer Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger. Pennington won the fight by unanimous decision.

Pennington faced Rose Namajunas in a rematch on April 16, 2016, at UFC on Fox 19. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Pennington next faced Bec Rawlings in a rematch at UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. The Korean Zombie on February 4, 2017. At the weigh-ins, Rawlings came in at 117.5 lbs, over the women's strawweight limit of 116 lbs. As a result, Rawlings was fined 20% of her purse, which went to Pennington and the bout proceeded at a catchweight. Pennington won the fight by unanimous decision.

Pennington faced Juliana Lima on July 7, 2017, at The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale. She won the fight via submission in the second round, making this the first stoppage victory in her professional career. The win also earned Pennington her first Performance of the Night bonus award.

Pennington faced Michelle Waterson on December 2, 2017, at UFC 218. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Pennington faced Jéssica Andrade on February 24, 2018, at UFC on Fox 28. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Pennington faced former strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk on July 28, 2018, at UFC on Fox 30. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Pennington faced Zhang Weili on March 2, 2019, at UFC 235. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Pennington faced Marina Rodriguez on August 10, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 156. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Pennington was scheduled to face Mizuki Inoue on March 28, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Rozenstruik. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually postponed . Instead, Pennington face Brianna Van Buren on June 20, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Volkov. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

A rematch with Angela Hill was expected to take place on December 12, 2020, at UFC 256. However, Hill tested positive for COVID-19 and pulled out of the fight. Pennington instead faced promotional newcomer Sam Hughes. She won the fight via doctor stoppage between round one and two after Hughes said she couldn't see out of one of her eyes.

The rematch with Angela Hill was rescheduled and took place on August 7, 2021, at UFC 265. Pennington won the fight via unanimous decision.

Pennington faced Mackenzie Dern on April 9, 2022, at UFC 273. Despite surviving deep submission attempts in the second round, Pennington lost the close bout via split decision.

Pennington faced Tabatha Ricci on May 11, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 56. She lost the fight by split decision.

Pennington faced former two-time UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza on October 5, 2024 at UFC 307. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Pennington faced Luana Pinheiro on May 17, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 256. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Pennington faced Denise Gomes on November 8, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 264. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

On January 23, 2026, it was reported that Pennington was removed from the UFC roster and retired from mixed martial arts competition.

Fighting style Pennington employs constant lateral movement while combining elements of taekwondo and karate. She frequently utilizes kicking techniques, occasionally following a high or low kick with a fast side kick. When punching, she will often press forward with a flurry of high strikes. She is openly part of the LGBTQ+ community and is married to former UFC women's bantamweight champion, Raquel Pennington. The couple announced the birth of their baby daughter in June 2023.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Second most decision wins in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (9) 2013 Newcomer of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Denise Gomes Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Bonfim vs. Brown

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Luana Pinheiro Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Carla Esparza Decision (unanimous) UFC 307

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Loss

Tabatha Ricci Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento

St. Louis, Missouri, United States Loss

Mackenzie Dern Decision (split) UFC 273

Jacksonville, Florida, United States Win

Angela Hill Decision (unanimous) UFC 265

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Sam Hughes TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC 256

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Brianna Van Buren Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Volkov

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Marina Rodriguez Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Shevchenko vs. Carmouche 2

Montevideo, Uruguay Loss

Zhang Weili Decision (unanimous) UFC 235

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Joanna Jędrzejczyk Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Alvarez vs. Poirier 2

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Loss

Jéssica Andrade Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Emmett vs. Stephens

Orlando, Florida, United States Win

Michelle Waterson Decision (unanimous) UFC 218

Detroit, Michigan, United States Win

Juliana Lima Submission (rear-naked choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Bec Rawlings Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. The Korean Zombie

Houston, Texas, United States Loss

Rose Namajunas Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger Decision (unanimous) UFC 194

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Angela Hill Decision (unanimous) UFC 188

Mexico City, Mexico Win

Angela Magaña Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Felice Herrig Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 7

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Rose Namajunas Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 6

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Paige VanZant Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 4

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Kaiyana Rain Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 3

Kansas City, Kansas, United States

Mixed martial arts exhibition record Loss

Carla Esparza Decision (majority)

(airdate)

Win

Bec Rawlings Decision (unanimous) (airdate)

Loss

Randa Markos Decision (unanimous) (airdate)