Raquel Pennington – 5-5, 1 KO, 2 SUBs – finally has an opponent at UFC 191. After Leslie Smith and Liz Carmouche both withdrew from the bout due to injuries, Jessica Andrade – 13-4, 4 KOs, 6 SUBs – has stepped up on short notice. And that’s not a good thing for Pennington.
CURRENT ODDS
Our online UFC 191 odds have Andrade as a significant favorite, with a -250 money line. Pennington is more than a 2-to-1 underdog at +210. The total in this three-round bout is set at .25 rounds, with the over at -240 and the under at +200. Prop bets, like what round the fight will end, are typically released on fight night, so remember to check back in for the latest updates.
GET READY FOR THE SEQUEL
Andrade and Pennington first met at UFC 171 in March 2014, with Andrade coming away with a split decision victory. Most media outlets had scored the fight 29-28 in her favor, and the fight wasn’t as close as the outcome suggested.
Pennington has alternated wins and losses in her four-fight UFC career, with wins over Roxanne Modafferi and Ashlee Evans-Smith and losses to Jessica Andrade and Holly Holm. Her fight against Holm, who was recently tabbed as the next challenger for Ronda Rousey, was surprisingly competitive given Holm’s status and hype.
Andrade is currently ranked No. 13 by the UFC, with a 4-2 record inside the octagon. She has yet to beat a top-10 fighter in the division, with her most notable victories coming against Pennington and Sarah Moras. However, she’s been a solid player in the division and seems to be settling into a gatekeeper role to the division’s elite.
For Pennington, who resides out of the top 15, a loss could cost her a roster spot. While the bantamweight division is thin on talent, having a 5-6 record in the UFC sticks out like a sore thumb. Andrade faces the pressure of winning in convincing fashion as the expected victor.
FIGHT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Pennington is durable and fairly well-rounded. She possesses good technical standup, but her punches and kicks lack power or speed. Her wrestling is solid as well, as she’s very difficult to take down and has good power on her double-leg takedowns. Where she excels is in the clinch, where she makes good use of her height and length.
Andrade is a fun fighter to watch. She comes straight forward and keeps a fast pace with relentless head-body combinations. The Brazilian is pretty good in the clinch, with a variety of throws and trips in her arsenal, but her bread-and-butter is striking at range.
I think Pennington is outmatched physically in this bout. Andrade is the stronger, faster fighter, and her athleticism will have Pennington in all sorts of trouble. Even if Pennington can get this fight to the ground, it’s doubtful that she can keep it there. The pick is Pennington to win by unanimous decision.
HOW TO BET
Sign into BookMaker to get the latest odds for Raquel Pennington vs. Jessica Andrade, which takes place on Saturday, September 5, 2015 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. FOX Sports 1 will televise the prelims starting 8 p.m. ET, with the main card airing on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET. Bookmaker’s MMA odds includes money lines, totals, prop bets and more.
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