UFC"The Tiny Tornado"

Tecia Pennington Record: 15-8-0

Record15-8-0

Age36

DivisionStrawweight · #21

Combat Edge Elo1658

Last fightNov 8 2025

Tecia Pennington has a 15-8-0 professional record and is 36 years old in the Strawweight division, representing American Top Team. This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, ELO rating, record, age, and opponent links.

Last updated Jun 17, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database

Tecia Pennington bio

Personal background

Tecia Pennington is an American strawweight who spent over a decade as one of the most consistent and durable competitors in the UFC's 115-pound division. Born Tecia Lyn Torres on August 16, 1989, in Fall River, Massachusetts, she moved to Coral Springs, Florida, as a young child and was raised there by her single mother. Pennington began martial arts as a toddler, earning black belts in Jhoon-Rhee Taekwondo and Karate before adding Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and her karate-and-taekwondo base gave rise to her nickname "The Tiny Tornado." Standing just 5'1", she fought out of American Top Team and built her game on constant lateral movement, technical kickboxing and a high fight IQ. She competed for most of her career as Tecia Torres before marrying fellow fighter Raquel Pennington.

Path to the UFC

Pennington turned professional in 2012 and made an immediate splash in Invicta FC, the premier women's promotion of the era. She opened her career undefeated, notching decision wins over future stars Paige VanZant and Rose Namajunas, plus veteran Felice Herrig, before entering the UFC's strawweight-launching The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 in 2014. On the show she dropped bouts to Randa Markos and eventual tournament winner Carla Esparza, but beat Bec Rawlings along the way and earned her place on the roster.

UFC contender years

Pennington won her official UFC debut over Angela Magana at the TUF 20 Finale and quickly established herself as a fixture in the rankings. She decisioned Angela Hill in 2015 and put together a strong 2017, beating Bec Rawlings again, submitting Juliana Lima by rear-naked choke, and outpointing former title challenger Michelle Waterson-Gomez. Those wins pushed her toward the top of a deep division.

Testing the elite

The next stretch pitted Pennington against the very best at 115. She dropped competitive decisions to champions Jéssica Andrade, Joanna Jędrzejczyk and Weili Zhang, plus Marina Rodriguez. She rebounded with a surge from 2020 onward, beating Brianna Fortino, scoring a TKO of Sam Hughes and earning another win over Angela Hill.

Veteran run

Pennington remained a credible test deep into her career. After a split-decision loss to Mackenzie Dern in 2022, she notched a meaningful 2024 win by decisioning former champion Carla Esparza at UFC 307, finally turning the tables on a longtime rival. She followed with a decision over Luana Pinheiro in 2025 before closing out her UFC run with a decision loss to Denise Gomes.

Fighting style

Pennington is a points-fighting technician built on movement, output and toughness rather than power. Of her 15 wins, 13 came by decision, with just one knockout and one submission — and notably, across 23 professional fights she was never finished, with all eight of her losses going to the scorecards. Her karate-rooted footwork, busy kicking game and underrated takedown defense made her difficult to beat decisively, even against champions. The trade-off was a lack of finishing power that left close fights in the judges' hands, but few strawweights in history matched her durability and consistency across such a long run.

Career highlights

Undefeated Invicta start — beat future UFC stars Rose Namajunas and Paige VanZant on her way to a strong early run.
Win over a former champion — decisioned ex-strawweight titleholder Carla Esparza at UFC 307 to settle a long rivalry.
Never finished — went the distance across a 26-fight career, with every loss coming by decision against the division's elite.

Career snapshot

Tecia Pennington career snapshot

Recent formL-W-W-L-LLatest 5 decisive tracked pro results

Current run1-fight losing streakMost recent tracked result: Loss vs Denise Gomes

Finish profile13%2 finishes in 15 recorded wins

Primary win pathdecision13 recorded wins by decision

Tecia Pennington quick answers

What is Tecia Pennington's record?

Tecia Pennington's professional MMA record is 15-8-0.

How old is Tecia Pennington?

Tecia Pennington is 36 years old.

What weight class is Tecia Pennington?

Tecia Pennington fights at Strawweight in UFC.

How tall is Tecia Pennington?

Tecia Pennington is 5'1" tall with a 60″ reach.

How much does Tecia Pennington weigh?

Tecia Pennington competes at Strawweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 115 lbs.

What is Tecia Pennington's Combat Edge Elo?

Tecia Pennington's Combat Edge Elo is 1658, with a peak Elo of 1675.

How strong is Tecia Pennington's recent opposition?

Tecia Pennington's latest 10 counted opponents averaged 1662 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.

When was Tecia Pennington's last fight?

Tecia Pennington's latest tracked pro fight was against Denise Gomes at UFC Fight Night on Nov 8 2025.

What is Tecia Pennington's recent form?

Tecia Pennington's recent tracked pro form is L-W-W-L-L over the latest 5 decisive pro results.

How does Tecia Pennington usually win?

Tecia Pennington's 15 recorded wins include 1 knockouts, 1 submissions, and 13 decisions, with 13% ending before the final bell.

1Wins by knockout

1Wins by submission

13Wins by decision

0Loss by knockout

0Loss by submission

8Loss by decision

Tecia Pennington stats

Record : 15 / 8 / 0

Significant strikes landed per minute

4.78Fighter3.72Division average

Significant striking accuracy

48%Fighter45%Division average

Significant strikes absorbed per minute

3.48Fighter4.24Division average

Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land

62%Fighter54%Division average

Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes

0.54Fighter1.24Division average

Takedown accuracy

14%Fighter37%Division average

Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land

62%Fighter55%Division average

Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes

0.06Fighter0.39Division average

Pro fight history

ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details

Loss15-7-15 EloDenise Gomes11-3Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC Fight NightNov 8 2025View details

Win14-7+14 EloLuana Pinheiro11-4Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC Fight NightMay 17 2025View details

Win13-7+18 EloCarla Esparza19-7Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC 307: Pereira vs. RountreeOct 5 2024View details

Loss13-6-14 EloTabatha Ricci9-2Decision (Split)5:00R3UFC Fight NightMay 11 2024View details

Loss13-5-13 EloMackenzie Dern11-2Decision (Split)5:00R3UFC 273Apr 9 2022View details

Win12-5+15 EloAngela Hill13-9Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC 265: Lewis vs. GaneAug 7 2021View details

Cancelled15-8-0+17 EloAngela Hill11-7-0Cancelled BoutNot recordedNot recordedUFC 256: Figueiredo vs. MorenoDec 12 2020View details

Win11-5+17 EloSam Hughes5-1TKO (doctor stoppage)5:00R1UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. MorenoDec 12 2020View details

Win10-5+17 EloBrianna Fortino9-2Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC Fight NightJun 20 2020View details

Cancelled15-8-0Mizuki InoueRecord TBDCancelled BoutNot recordedNot recordedUFC on ESPN 8Mar 28 2020Details unavailable

Loss10-4-13 EloMarina Rodriguez11-0-1Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC on ESPN+ 14Aug 10 2019View details

Loss10-3-11 EloWeili Zhang18-1Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC 235: Jones vs. SmithMar 2 2019View details

Loss10-2Joanna Jędrzejczyk14-2Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC on FOX 30Jul 28 2018View details

Loss10-1Jéssica Andrade17-6Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC on FOX 28Feb 24 2018View details

Win9-1Michelle Waterson-Gomez14-5Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC 218: Holloway vs. Aldo 2Dec 2 2017View details

Win8-1Juliana Lima9-3Submission (Rear Naked Choke)0:53R2The Ultimate Fighter 25 FinaleJul 7 2017Details unavailable

Win7-1Bec Rawlings7-5Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC Fight Night 104Feb 4 2017View details

Loss7-0Rose Namajunas4-2Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC on FOX 19Apr 16 2016Details unavailable

Win6-0Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger6-1Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregorDec 12 2015View details

Cancelled15-8-0Michelle Waterson-Gomez6-4-0Cancelled BoutNot recordedNot recordedUFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregorDec 12 2015View details

Win5-0Angela Hill2-0Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3UFC 188: Velasquez vs. WerdumJun 13 2015View details

Win4-0Angela Magana11-6Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3The Ultimate Fighter 20 FinaleDec 12 2014Details unavailable

Loss15-8-0Carla EsparzaRecord TBDDecision (Majority)Exhibition MMA5:00R2The Ultimate Fighter Season 20Aug 6 2014Details unavailable

Win15-8-0Bec RawlingsRecord TBDDecision (Unanimous)Exhibition MMA5:00R2The Ultimate Fighter Season 20Jul 28 2014Details unavailable

Loss15-8-0Randa MarkosRecord TBDDecision (Unanimous)Exhibition MMA5:00R3The Ultimate Fighter Season 20Jul 8 2014Details unavailable

Win3-0Felice Herrig9-4Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3Invicta FC 7Dec 7 2013Details unavailable

Win2-0Rose Namajunas2-0Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3Invicta FC 6Jul 13 2013Details unavailable

Win1-0Paige VanZant2-0Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3Invicta FC 4Jan 5 2013Details unavailable

Win0-0Kaiyana Rain0-0Decision (Unanimous)5:00R3Invicta FC 3Oct 6 2012Details unavailable

Amateur fight history