One-time UFC bantamweight title contender Raquel Pennington will return to action for the first time in more than one year when she faces off with Pannie Kianzad at the upcoming UFC Fight Night card on Sept. 18.
Multiple people with knowledge of the booking confirmed it to MMA Fighting following an initial report from Front Kick Online.
A stalwart in the UFC’s bantamweight division since 2013, Pennington looks to earn back-to-back wins when she returns in September after earning a decision over Marion Reneau in her previous octagon appearance. Overall, she is 2-1 in her past three fights with an additional win over Irene Aldana and a decision loss to former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm.
As for Kianzad, she’ll get the opportunity to take a step up in competition after putting together an impressive four-fight winning streak in the division. Most recently, she dispatched former title challenger Alexis Davis by decision to mark her fourth consecutive victory.
Pennington vs. Kianzad joins a growing lineup on Sept. 18 with a main event for the card still to be determined.