Another fighter who emerged from TUFC 18 alongside Julianna Pena was reigning bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington, who was part of Team Ronda. Although she lost in the semifinals against Pena, this defeat didn’t stop her from making her UFC debut. Shortly after TUF 18 concluded, Pennington made her UFC debut in April 2014, securing a successful win against Roxanne Modafferi. Since then, ‘Rocky’ has never looked back.

While her early UFC career had its ups and downs, she steadily improved over time, which is reflected in her records, earning her the nickname ‘Rocky,’ a moniker beloved by her fans. However, it’s worth noting that her nickname shouldn’t be confused with Leon Edwards’ ‘Rocky,’ which was inspired by the famous character Rocky Balboa. So, the question remains: Is Pennington a fan of Rocky Balboa, or is there another reason behind her nickname?

How did Raquel Pennington get the nickname ‘Rocky’?

Raquel Pennington may or may not be a fan of Rocky Balboa, but her nickname is definitely not inspired by the iconic boxer, unlike former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards. Instead, it came from the difficulty her school friends had in pronouncing her name, leading them to habitually call her ‘Rocky.’ In a 2013 interview with the UFC, Rocky’ disclosed, “It came from high school. People couldn’t pronounce my name and would always call me Rock-quel, so the name was shortened to Rock, then over the years, Rocky.”

Even though there’s no special story behind Raquel Pennington’s nickname, she consistently lives up to the ‘Rock’ moniker in the UFC, showcasing strength, resilience, and stability. This is especially reflected in her MMA record, as since the post-COVID era, she hasn’t lost a fight, currently riding a six-fight win streak. Most of ‘Rocky’ ’s victories have come by decision, which has helped her set a record in the promotion—one that is yet to be broken.

Other unknown facts about Raquel Pennington

Raquel Pennington, who describes herself as “half Mexican, half Caucasian,” was born on September 15, 1988, to Rose Pennington. While her father’s name is not publicly known, it’s assumed that he may be of Caucasian descent, possibly European or Middle Eastern. Pennington grew up between Denver and Florida. Despite spending time in Florida, she still has a fear of alligators, which is somewhat surprising ( just joking as alligators are the “doggos” of Florida—but let’s be honest, everyone fears them!).

When it comes to Raquel Pennington’s MMA career, her record is one for the books. She currently holds the title for the most fights in women’s bantamweight history and leads the division with the most strikes landed—an impressive 1,575. On top of her achievements inside the Octagon, ‘Rocky’ is also balancing a personal life as a wife to fellow UFC straw-weight contender Tecia Torres and as a mother. She has admitted how challenging this is, stating, “I struggle to find balance in helping others and not draining myself.” Yet, she continues to thrive in both her career and personal life like a true champion.

Now, all eyes are on the upcoming UFC event in Utah, where Raquel Pennington will defend her title for the first time against former champ Julianna Pena. Their paths first crossed a decade ago in the TUF 18 semifinals, where Pena overpowered ‘Rocky’. It will be intriguing to see if Pennington avenges her defeat this time.