Pannie Kianzad gets the matchup she’s called for.
Kianzad (15-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC) meets former title challenger Raquel Pennington (11-8 MMA, 8-5 UFC) at UFC Fight Night on Sept. 18, which takes place at a location and venue yet-to-be-announced. Both fighters recently confirmed the booking on social media after an initial report by Front Kick.
“The Ultimate Fighter,” Season 28 finalist Kianzad is 4-1 since she rejoined the UFC roster as a bantamweight. At UFC 263 in June, Kianzad notched her fourth straight win when she picked up a unanimous decision win over former title challenger Alexis Davis and will get her wish when she squares off with Pennington in fall.
The winner of two of her past three fights, Pennington hasn’t fought since she defeated Marion Reneau via unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN 11 in June 2020. Pennington received a six-month suspension from USADA for using the prohormone 7-keto-DHEA and the peptide AOD-9064, both of which she said were prescribed to her by a doctor to treat a medical condition. The 32-year-old issued a statement prior to USADA announcing the suspension which was retroactive in Nov. 17, the date she declared the use of the substances. She was eligible to return in May.
With the addition, the Sept. 18 lineup includes:
- Anthony Smith vs. Ryan Spann
- Dakota Bush vs. Zhu Rong
- Danaa Batgerel vs. Montel Jackson
- Sarah Alpar vs. Erin Blanchfield
- Tafon Nchukwi vs. Mike Rodriguez
- Devin Clark vs. Ion Cutelaba
- Carlston Harris vs. Impa Kasanganay
- Jim Miller vs. Nikolas Motta
- Pannie Kianzad vs. Raquel Pennington
