We asked AI to predict the winner for UFC 307: Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Pena (And it gave an interesting answer)
UFC 307 will take place at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A., on Oct. 5, 2024. The co-main event of the card will see Raquel Pennington attempt to defend her UFC women's bantamweight championship against former divisional ruler Julianna Pena. Google's AI Gemini has put forth its prediction for the showdown.
The AI acknowledged Pennington as a tough combatant, and her ground game was highlighted as being one of her strengths. Her recent performances were deemed good and indicative of her ability to fight at an elite level.
Meanwhile, it was noted that Pena is an ex-UFC women's bantamweight titlist with a style of combat that's opportunistic and aggressive. It was indicated that Pena is tough to finish and adept at capitalizing on openings.
Based on both combatants' strengths and weaknesses, three main possibilities were listed: a decision win for Pennington, a submission win for Pena, or a closely-contested decision.
Firstly, in the stand-up aspect, Pennington's accurate striking and robustness are expected to give her an edge. Apparently, her deftness at avoiding significant strikes and knack for controlling the fight's pace could bag her the win on the judges' scorecards at UFC 307.
Secondly, Pena's grappling prowess and aggressive approach were cited as elements that could threaten Pennington on the mat. Provided she can land a takedown and go for a submission, she could certainly finish 'Rocky.'
Thirdly, there's the possibility of things coming down to a razor-thin decision that could go either way.
The AI model predicted that based on their styles and latest performances, a closely-contested decision victory for Pennington is likely because her ground game, durability and ability to control the pace of the fight give her a minor advantage.
However, Pena's aggressive style and grappling abilities make her a threatening foe, and either fighter could emerge victorious in the UFC 307 matchup.
Moreover, it was clarified that the prediction hinges on the current situation and could change owing to variables like changes in weight divisions, injuries, or other conditions.
UFC 307: When Kayla Harrison revealed her pick for a potential Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Pena fight
Julianna Pena's last fight saw her lose the UFC women's bantamweight title to MMA legend Amanda Nunes via unanimous decision in their rematch in July 2022. Nunes then vacated the belt and retired in June 2023.
Raquel Pennington's most recent fight witnessed her defeat Mayra Bueno Silva via unanimous decision to capture the vacant UFC women's bantamweight championship in Jan. 2024.
Back in July 2024, reports emerged that Pennington (16-8 MMA) would defend her belt against Pena (11-5 MMA) at the UFC's pay-per-view in October, but the promotion was yet to officially announce it. Regardless, Judo legend and ex-PFL lightweight champion Kayla Harrison chimed in on the matchup.
Speaking to MMA Junkie, Harrison stated that predicting the winner was tough. Asserting that she usually sides with grapplers, she opined that "Pena pulls it out," but also said that it's anybody's fight. The UFC bantamweight, who fights Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307, even implied that she'd fight both (Pennington and Pena) on the same night.
Watch Harrison's assessment below (4:15):