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Tecia Torres
Born Tecia Lyn Torres Moncaio
(1989-08-16) August 16, 1989 (age 35)
Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
Other names The Tiny Tornado, Double T
Height 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)
Weight 115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st)
Division Strawweight
Reach 60+12 in (154 cm)
Style Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Fighting out of Colorado Springs, U.S.
Team American Top Team
Rank Black belt in Karate
Black belt in Jhoon-Rhee Taekwondo
Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active 2011–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 21
Wins 14
By knockout 1
By submission 1
By decision 12
Losses 7
By decision 7
Amateur record
Total 7
Wins 7
By submission 2
By decision 5
Losses 0
Other information
Spouse
Raquel Pennington
(m. 2022)

Tecia Lyn Pennington (née Torres Moncaio; born August 16, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist who is currently competing in the women’s Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of October 8, 2024, she is #15 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings.

Background

Pennington was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, but moved to Coral Springs with her single mom, older sister and a younger brother at the age of five. Torres has been involved in martial arts since age 3. She began in taekwondo as a child, and received her black belt after twelve years practicing the sport. She also has an amateur muay thai record of sixteen victories and four losses.

Pennington graduated at 20 years old in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Florida Atlantic University. She earned her master's degree in Criminology from the same college in 2017.

She is of Puerto Rican, Portuguese and Irish descent. Her family has roots in Maunabo, Puerto Rico.

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.

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. Pennington does not often utilize submission techniques, but has demonstrated submission defense.

Personal life

..... On the World Mental Health Day of 2019, Pennington revealed having struggled with her mental health issues – depression and attachment disorder – for several years. 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. Juliana Lima
    • Tied (Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Jéssica Andrade & Carla Esparza) for second most wins in the UFC Women's Strawweight division history (10)
    • Fourth most bouts in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (17)
  • MMA Solutions Global
    • MMA Solutions amateur strawweight title (one time)
  • US Freedom Fighter Championship
    • USFFC amateur strawweight title (one time)
  • American Battle Championships
    • ABC amateur strawweight title (one time)
  • Women's MMA Awards
    • 2013 Strawweight of the Year
  • AwakeningFighters.com WMMA Awards
    • 2013 Strawweight of the Year
    • 2013 Newcomer of the Year
  • Bleacher Report

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
21 matches 14 wins 7 losses
By knockout 1 0
By submission 1 0
By decision 12 7
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 14–7 Carla Esparza Decision (unanimous) UFC 307 October 5, 2024 3 5:00 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Loss 13–7 Tabatha Ricci Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento May 11, 2024 3 5:00 St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Loss 13–6 Mackenzie Dern Decision (split) UFC 273 April 9, 2022 3 5:00 Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Win 13–5 Angela Hill Decision (unanimous) UFC 265 August 7, 2021 3 5:00 Houston, Texas, United States
Win 12–5 Sam Hughes TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC 256 December 12, 2020 1 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 11–5 Brianna Van Buren Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Volkov June 20, 2020 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 10–5 Marina Rodriguez Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Shevchenko vs. Carmouche 2 August 10, 2019 3 5:00 Montevideo, Uruguay
Loss 10–4 Zhang Weili Decision (unanimous) UFC 235 March 2, 2019 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 10–3 Joanna Jędrzejczyk Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Alvarez vs. Poirier 2 July 28, 2018 3 5:00 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Loss 10–2 Jéssica Andrade Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Emmett vs. Stephens February 24, 2018 3 5:00 Orlando, Florida, United States
Win 10–1 Michelle Waterson Decision (unanimous) UFC 218 December 2, 2017 3 5:00 Detroit, Michigan, United States
Win 9–1 Juliana Lima Submission (rear-naked choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale July 7, 2017 2 0:53 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 8–1 Bec Rawlings Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. The Korean Zombie February 4, 2017 3 5:00 Houston, Texas, United States Catchweight (117.5 lb) bout; Rawlings missed weight.
Loss 7–1 Rose Namajunas Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans April 16, 2016 3 5:00 Tampa, Florida, United States
Win 7–0 Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger Decision (unanimous) UFC 194 December 12, 2015 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 6–0 Angela Hill Decision (unanimous) UFC 188 June 13, 2015 3 5:00 Mexico City, Mexico
Win 5–0 Angela Magaña Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale December 12, 2014 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 4–0 Felice Herrig Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith December 7, 2013 3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Win 3–0 Rose Namajunas Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg July 13, 2013 3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Win 2–0 Paige VanZant Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt January 5, 2013 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Win 1–0 Kaiyana Rain Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama October 6, 2012 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Strawweight debut.

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 1–2 Carla Esparza Decision (majority) The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned December 3, 2014 (airdate) 2 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States TUF 20 Quarterfinal round.
Win 1–1 Bec Rawlings Decision (unanimous) November 12, 2014 (airdate) 2 5:00 TUF 20 Elimination round. Torres was brought back into competition after an injury to another contestant.
Loss 0–1 Randa Markos Decision (unanimous) September 10, 2014 (airdate) 3 5:00 TUF 20 Elimination round.

See also

  • List of current UFC fighters
  • List of female mixed martial artists
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