MMA Preview – Holly Holm vs Raquel Pennington 2 at UFC 243
THE FACTS
When is UFC 243? Sunday 6th October, 2019 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 243? Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
What channel is UFC 243 on? BT Sport 2
Where can I stream UFC 243? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ which can you sign up to here!
Are tickets still available for UFC Fight Night 243? https://www.ufc.com/tickets
THE STATISTICS
THE LOWDOWN
Holly Holm and Raquel Pennington rematch to kick off the main card in Melbourne. Both fighters are sliding and hoping to remain relevant in the division but this is guaranteed to be a high calibre display of Mixed Martial Arts.
Holm took home the spoils in their first fight which was her welcome party to the UFC. The champion boxer was handed the stern test with the powerful grappler and although it was a split decision, she passed it with flying colours by defending every takedown attempt.
Since then Holm has had a storied UFC career, going 5-5 including five title fights. She unforgettably head kicked Ronda Rousey out of ‘Goddess’ status but has struggled to replicate that feat in coming up against some of the best female fighters in MMA history including Miesha Tate, Valentina Shevchenko, Germaine de Randamie, Cris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes, who just handed her the first knockout of her career in devastating fashion.
Pennington has an unflattering record of 10-7 but that’s what happens when you fight the majority of your career in the UFC. Since suffering serious injuries outside the cage she has struggled to match the performance she pulled off against Miesha Tate although she was pitted against Nunes and de Randamie on her return. However, she got back to winning ways in her last fight against Irene Aldana with a split decision.
THE PREDICTION
Although their first fight was all the way back in 2015 and both fighters have improved considerably since, it is difficult to see this going a different way. Pennington has a clear grappling advantage and Holm has a clear striking advantage so it will all come down to Holm’s takedown defence which has got even better since their first fight.
Holm is expected to keep the fight on the feet and leverage her impeccable movement and cardio to out-work and out-strike Pennington, with her durability dragging the fight to another decision.
Winner: Holm via Decision
This fight has been cancelled due to an injury sustained by Holly Holm.
Striking and grappling stats sourced via FightMetric.
