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Former Champ Questions Criticism Of Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva At UFC 297: 'Can’t Claim The Main Event Was More Exciting'

Originally posted on MMA News | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated 1/22/24

An ex-bantamweight queen was not pleased to see the reaction to her division's latest title fight between Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 297.

The pair did battle at this past weekend's pay-per-view event, which marked the promotion's first numbered event of 2024 and went down at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada.

Upon the bout's announcement and during the weeks leading up to it, anticipation wasn't exactly high for the crowning of the first post-Amanda Nunes champion at 135 pounds.

Bueno Silva acknowledged that during fight week, but insisted she would steal the show by bringing excitement to the Octagon. In the eyes of most, however, that did not come to fruition.

Her contest with Pennington — which "Sheetara" lost by unanimous decision — was widely slammed on social media, with some suggesting the title may as well be kept vacant.

Tate Leaps To Defense Of Pennington & Bueno Silva

Not everyone, however, was piling onto the new bantamweight titleholder and her fallen challenger. Leaping to their defense on social media post-fight was former champ Miesha Tate.

And more than just defending them, "Cupcake" went as far as to suggest that the UFC 297 co-main event went above and beyond what she had expected ahead of time.

Man you guys are a tough crowd that fight was way better than I had anticipated, Raquel had such a long layoff I thought it would take her longer to find her rhythm. fight was busy and multiple sub attempts. Rocky almost KOd Mayra at one point. u all not paying attention #ufc297.
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) January 21, 2024

"Man you guys are a tough crowd that fight was way better than I had anticipated, Raquel had such a long layoff I thought it would take her longer to find her rhythm. fight was busy and multiple sub attempts. Rocky almost KOd Mayra at one point. u all not paying attention," Tate wrote.

Replying to a fan who suggested she was attempting to combat Sean Strickland's mocking remarks about the co-main event during fight week, Tate claimed that "Tarzan" and Dricus Du Plessis' headlining title joust didn't surpass Pennington and Bueno Silva on the excitement scale.

Well no disrespect but you can’t claim the main event was any more exciting. Solid fights but if we must compare I thought the co main was much more dynamic and much closer to finishes multiple times https://t.co/lvPncYBvTi
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) January 21, 2024

"Well no disrespect but you can’t claim the main event was any more exciting. Solid fights but if we must compare I thought the co main was much more dynamic and much closer to finishes multiple times"

Tate subsequently insisted that the fight was "consistently delivering" throughout its 25-minute duration.

That makes sense bc I feel like this fight was consistently delivering, I agree it’s not the best fight we have ever seen but it was far from trash. https://t.co/8VulrNLOmB
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) January 21, 2024

"That makes sense bc I feel like this fight was consistently delivering, I agree it’s not the best fight we have ever seen but it was far from trash."

Tate knows a thing or two about holding the bantamweight belt, having won it from Holly Holm back in 2016.

While subsequent defeats resulted in her retirement, "Cupcake" returned after five years in 2021 and sits just outside the top 10 at 135 pounds following a standout victory over Julia Avila late last year.

This article first appeared on MMA News and was syndicated with permission.

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