Meet Raquel Pennington | Professional MMA Fighter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Raquel Pennington and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Raquel, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I have been an athlete my whole life. I feel it was the cards destined for me. I always dreamed of being a WNBA player never would have guessed a pro fighter but I absolutely love my job. MMA is truly and art and always gives a challenge and room to grow as a person and as an athlete and I love that.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I grew up being an athlete. I broke my back and couldn’t take any athletic scholarships to college so I took an academic scholarship to the local university and was going through recovery and rehab. That was tough! Once recovered I was at the gym working out getting back into shape. Fighting was a joke with my mom but I think she thought it would be good to get me going again. I started training and realized I was really good at it. Back then you rarely heard of females in the sport. I worked 10 times harder to prove myself in the gym and in my fights. I was determined. The more people laughed at me the harder I worked to prove them wrong. Things in life worth having our never easy. I had a burning passion to become one of the best in the world. There are lots of ups and downs and the highest of highs and lowest of lows in this sport but I always do my best to find the positive. To listen to my body when test is needed. In the spot light I’ve learned to stay true to who I am and where I’ve come from and I never forget to have fun.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m an outdoors girl. Colorado completes my soul with all it has to offer. I’d take them to the Garden of the Gods. Pikes Peak. Really all the tourist attractions. I love small towns so Estes park of even any small town near hot springs. I enjoy taking people to eat types of food they can’t get back home. For instance, Elk. A delicious Elk burger. All my friends know I’m family oriented so I’m sure we would be hanging with the fam bam as well.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wanna thank my family and friends who have been by side and have believed in me when I didn’t even believe in me. To my coaches who are truly my second family and help me to be the best version of myself and push my to the ultimate limit. My true fans who support me win or lose and to all the young kids and people out there chasing dreams…..always work hard, don’t let anyone tell you you can’t and remember to always have fun.

Website: Www.TeamRocky.net

Instagram: Raquel_pennington

Twitter: RockyPMMA

Image Credits
1) My fight photo 2) My wife Tecia Pennington and our furbabies 3)Hiking In Colorado’s Amazing Summer 4) Summiting a 14er 5) Snowboarding with My brother Ricky Pennington 6) Fishing with my wife