Raquel Pennington discusses Tecia Torres’ influence on new UFC Pride fight kits
This past weekend at UFC Vegas 3, the UFC for the first time in the promotion’s history, allowed fighters who wanted to, the opportunity to wear a new fight kit that was specifically made in honor of Pride month. It was revealed that the Pride kits actually came to life due to the influence of Raquel Pennington and Tecia Torres. Many fighters sported the new fight kit, from the first fight of the night with Max Rohskopf up through the main event with Curtis Blaydes rocking it as well.
While the new Pride fight kits were on full display throughout the night, it was two competitors, who are partners, and fought on the same card and they are strawweight Tecia Torres and bantamweight Raquel Pennington. Both Torres and Pennington were victorious in their fights on the night, and afterwards, Pennington spoke to the media about the fight kits and revealed it was actually Torres’ idea to get the UFC to make them.
.@RockyPMMA was proud to help make #PrideMonth gear a reality at #UFCVegas3.
Ful interview: https://t.co/E3mmWKNrOG pic.twitter.com/Zexoq6k7Fo
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) June 22, 2020
“It’s awesome to see this moment. For one, Tecia was trying to make it happen it was originally her idea,” Pennington said. “She was like ‘I think it would be something amazing to be able to stand up, especially in this month.’ We came in this week and they showed us the fight kits and they are sweet, right? But she was like ‘what in the world, why do all the fighters have them, you better give me my credit.’ But it’s just an honor to be able to stand up for our community.”
The Pride kits were definitely a great addition to the UFC uniforms, as there is a strong LGTBQ presence in the UFC, not just with Torres and Pennington, but also two-weight champion Amanda Nunes and her wife Nina Ansaroff, who are expecting their first child later this year.
Pride kits came as somewhat as a surprise to viewers watching this past weekend’s card, but it was a great addition to the uniform kits, and should be a mainstay if fighters choose they’d like to wear them.
