Jessica Penne

Jessica Penne(born January 30, 1983) is an American professional mixed martial artist. Penne competed in theWomen's Strawweightdivision for theUltimate Fighting Championship(UFC).She was the firstInvicta FC Atomweight Champion. She also competed in the first women's bout inBellator Fighting Championships.
Penne was born inNewport Beach, California, on January 30, 1983, and graduated fromDiamond Bar High School, participating on the softball and swimming teams.Next atCal State Fullerton, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication.Penne isItalian American.Her father is the first generation of his Italian family born in the United States. Some of his family members remain in his family’s originating area ofTurino, Italy.
In May 2009, Penne became the first woman to compete and win a bout in theBellator Fighting Championshipsorganization when she fought atBellator 5against Tammie Schneider in a 117-pound catchweight bout. She won the fight via TKO (punches) in the first round.
In August 2010, Penne met future BellatorStrawweightChampionZoila Gurgelin the opening quarterfinal round of the Bellator Season 3115 lb women's tournamentatBellator 25.Penne lost the fight via unanimous decision.
In September 2011, Penne agreed to fight two-timeGirls S-CupchampionRena Kubotain a shoot boxing bout inJapan. Shoot boxing allowskicks,punches,knees,throws, andstandingsubmissions (chokeholds,armlocksandwristlocks).Penne was added to theShoot Boxing 2011: Act 4fight card againstRena Kubotaa week before the event.Penne beat the heavily favored Kubota in a significant upset. The bout was ruled a majority draw after the first three scheduled rounds with scores of 29–29, 29–29, and 30–29 (Penne). The fight then went to a fourth extension round, which was judged a split draw with scores of 10–9 (Kubota), 10–9 (Penne), and 10–10. The fifth and final round went to the scorecards as well and Penne was awarded the majority decision (10–9, 10–9, and 9–9).
In February 2012, it was announced that Penne was signed by the upstart all-women's promotionInvicta Fighting Championships.
On April 28, 2012, Penne made herInvictadebut at their inaugural event entitledInvicta FC 1: Coenen vs. Ruyssen, againstLisa Ellisin the co-main event. She won the fight via TKO (strikes) at 2:48 of round 3.
Penne competed once again for Invicta on October 6, 2012, this time headliningInvicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyamaagainst the then-#1 rankedAtomweightfighter in the world andJewels105-pound champion,Naho Sugiyama. The fight marked the first championship bout in Invicta's history, in any weight class. Penne became Invicta's firstAtomweight championwhen she defeated Sugiyama in the second round via triangle choke.
Penne's first defense of the championship headlinedInvicta FC 5: Penne vs. Watersonwhen she defended againstMichelle Watersonon April 5, 2013.Penne lost the fight and the championship via armbar submission in the fourth round.
Penne faced Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc atInvicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborgon July 13, 2013.She defeated Rivera-Calanoc by submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.Penne received a "Submission of the Night" bonus for the victory.
On July 3, 2014, it was announced that Penne was one of 16 contestants onThe Ultimate Fighter: Team Pettis vs. Team Melendez, which would crown theUltimate Fighting Championship's first strawweight champion.
Penne was the fifth pick by coachAnthony Pettis.  She faced Lisa Ellis in the preliminary round of the tournament and won via submission in the first round.  She defeated fellow Team Pettis teammateAisling Dalyin the quarterfinals via decision win. In the semifinal round, she lost to her friendCarla Esparzaby decision.
Penne made her UFC debut on December 12, 2014, atThe Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale, facing fellow semifinalistRanda Markoson the main card.Penne won the back-and-forth fight by split decision (28–29, 30–27, and 29–28). The bout also won Penne her firstFight of the Nightbonus award from the promotion.
Penne was scheduled to faceJuliana Limaon May 30, 2015, atUFC Fight Night 67.However, Penne was pulled from that bout in favor of a match-up withUFC Women's Strawweight ChampionJoanna Jędrzejczykon June 20, 2015, atUFC Fight Night 69, after that event's headliner bout fell apart.She lost the fight in the third round via TKO following a flurry of punches and a knee against the cage.  Both participants were awardedFight of the Nighthonors.
In her first fight following her title shot loss, Penne facedJéssica Andradeon June 4, 2016, atUFC 199. She lost the fight via TKO in the second round.
Penne next facedDanielle Tayloron April 22, 2017, atUFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Lobov. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.
On May 10, 2017, it was announced that Penne had been flagged byUSADAfor anti-doping violation from a March 2017 out of competition sample. Originally reported as negative, athlete biological passport abnormalities caused USADA to re-analyse the sample usingIsotope-ratio mass spectrometrywhich detected an anabolic steroid of exogenous origin.On January 5, 2018, Penne was suspended for 18 months, a reduction of 6 months, due to her taking a DHEA supplement on a physicians recommendation. She was eligible to compete in October 2018.
Penne was scheduled to faceJodie Esquibelon February 17, 2019, atUFC on ESPN 1.At the weigh-ins, Penne weighed in at 118 pounds, 2 pounds over the strawweight non-title fight upper limit of 116 pounds. As a result, the bout was expected at catchweight and Penne was fined 20% of her purse which went to her opponent Esquibel.However, Penne then injured her ankle on the morning of the fight and the bout was cancelled.The pair was rescheduled to meet on April 27, 2019, atUFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson.However, it was reported on April 18, 2019, that Penne pulled out of the bout, due to an injury, and she was replaced byAngela Hill.
Penne faced a four-year ban from competition from theUnited States Anti Doping Agency, following a second infraction of the USADA program. AGoFundMepage was set up to prepare a lawsuit against USADA, however in early February Penne's manager closed it down due to favorable progress with USADA.On February 28, 2020, it was reported that the suspension reduced from four years to 20 months. The suspension was retroactive from April 8, 2019, and Penne became eligible to fight again on December 8, 2020.
Penne's first fight after USADA suspension was scheduled to take place on March 27, 2021, againstHannah GoldyatUFC 260.However, Goldy pulled out of the fight on March 24, due to testing positive for COVID-19, and the bout was scrapped.The pairing was rescheduled toUFC on ESPN 22on April 17, 2021.A week before the bout, Goldy pulled out of the event, and she was replaced byLFA Women's Strawweight championLupita Godinez.Penne won the close bout via split decision.11 out of 17 media scores gave it to Godinez.
Penne facedKarolina Kowalkiewiczon August 7, 2021, atUFC 265.She won the fight via an arm bar in round one.This fight earned her thePerformance of the Nightaward.
Penne was scheduled to faceLuana Pinheiroon November 20, 2021, atUFC Fight Night 198.However Penne withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reason and she was replaced bySam Hughes.Penne was rescheduled to face Pinheiro on April 30, 2022, atUFC on ESPN 35.They were once again scrapped as Pinheiro pulled out due to an undisclosed injury.
Penne was scheduled to faceBrianna Fortinoon July 16, 2022, atUFC on ABC 3.However, Fortino withdrew in early June for unknown reasons and was replaced byEmily Ducote.She lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Cheyanne Vlismaswas scheduled to faceTabatha Ricci, but Penne stepped in replacing Vlismas, who pulled out for October 1, 2022, atUFC Fight Night 211,however the fight was cancelled due to an illness with Penne on the day of the weigh in's.
Penne facedTabatha Riccion March 4, 2023, atUFC 285.She lost the fight via an armbar in the second round.
Penne faced formerCage Fury FC Women's Strawweight ChampionElise Reedon October 19, 2024 atUFC Fight Night 245.She lost the fight by unanimous decision.
On October 29, 2024, it was announced that Penne was released from the UFC.
Penne is akickboxerwho also utilizes grappling andjiu-jitsu.While standing, she often attacks with hooks, body kicks, and knees from a clinch.Penne regularly attempts to take opponents to the mat, normally with clinches, trips, or takedown reversals.During a grappling session, she will usually attack with strikes before attempting a submission.Penne earned her black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu underLucas Leitein January 2015.