Report: UFC vet Tecia Pennington parts ways with promotion after 12-year run

UFC strawweight veteran Tecia Pennington has reportedly been removed from the roster after losses in three of her past five fights.

Women’s MMA has come a long way since UFC strawweight veteran Tecia Pennington made her promotional debut in 2014.

Pennington, following a successful run on The Ultimate Fighter 20, signed with the promotion and won her promotional debut against Angela Magana by unanimous decision. The victory came after Pennington fell just short of winning the inaugural strawweight championship on TUF 20, losing to eventual champion Carla Esparza in the quarterfinals.

Despite the setback, Pennington went on to have a successful run in the UFC, earning wins against the likes of Angela Hill, Michele Waterson-Gomez, and a rematch victory over Esparza in October 2024. The 36-year-old Pennington last competed in a unanimous decision loss to Denise Gomes at a UFC Fight Night event in November.

After 12 years in the Octagon, Pennington is apparently hanging up the gloves.

Tecia Pennington’s 12-year UFC career ends after recent skid

According to watchdog X account UFC Roster Watch, Pennington’s 12-year run with the promotion has come to a close.

As of this writing, Pennington hasn’t officially announced her retirement, although she hinted as much in her post-fight interview following the Gomes fight. ‘The Tiny Tornado’ Pennington was known for an exciting style inside the Octagon and was a mainstay of the UFC strawweight title picture.

TUF 20, featuring Pennington, Esparza, and Rose Namajunas, was a pivotal moment for women’s MMA. Pennington was part of the UFC, adding multiple female-led weight classes and leading to the growth of legends such as Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Zhang Weili, and Namajunas.

Pennington is the latest UFC veteran to hang up the gloves over the past few years of events. Anthony Smith, Henry Cejudo, and Dustin Poirier were a few top names to announce their retirements in 2025.