Right About Now with Ryan Alford - Raquel Pennington - American Mixed Martial Artist
Episode Date: April 5, 2022Welcome to another episode of The Radcast! In this week’s episode, host Ryan Alford talks to Raquel Pennington, an American Mixed Martial Artist.Raquel, who grew up with exceptional athleticism, exp...lains why she chose Mixed Martial Arts over the many sports she has tried and what motivates her to pursue this career.Raquel talks about her debut in the Invicta Fighting Championships and how exciting it was for her compared to competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She also discusses the most challenging obstacle she has faced and how she overcame it.Raquel also gives sound advice to her supporters and anyone who aspires to follow in her footsteps.To know more about Raquel Pennington follow her on Instagram @raquel_pennington and on Twitter @RockyPMMA.If you enjoyed this episode of The Radcast, let us know by visiting our website www.theradcast.com. Check out www.theradicalformula.com. Like, Share and Subscribe to our YouTube account https://bit.ly/3iHGk44 or leave us a review on Apple Podcast. Be sure to keep up with all that’s radical from @ryanalford @radical_results @the.rad.cast. If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more, join Ryan’s newsletter https://ryanalford.com/newsletter/ to get Ferrari level advice daily for FREE. Learn how to build a 7 figure business from your personal brand by signing up for a FREE introduction to personal branding https://ryanalford.com/personalbranding. Learn more by visiting our website at www.ryanisright.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@RightAboutNowwithRyanAlford.
Transcript
Discussion (0)
I've been doing sports since I was five and kind of just, I never thought in a million years I'd grow up to be a professional fighter, but I guess that's what I'm destined to do.
My very first training session was a sparring session.
This sport, like I said, it gives you the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and it's tough when you're on a platform.
It's tough when you're in the spotlight and when you're in the media and you have all these expectations to live up to.
You're listening to the Radcast. If it's radical, we cover it.
Here's your host, Ryan Alford. Hey guys, what's up? Welcome to the latest edition of the Radcast.
We're getting radical today, folks. Talking black and blue in the face.
Raquel Pennington, welcome to the show.
Yeah, thanks for having me.
How are you?
I'm great, man.
I mean, you know, I was excited.
My team, like, put you in front of me, and I'm like,
oh, she seems pretty rad.
I want to hear this story.
I kind of want to know, you know, the fighter's journey,
especially, you know, watching you climb through the UFC.
And I know we'll get
into all that but uh seemed like you had a lot of stuff going on yeah it's definitely been a journey
to say the least well let's start down that path let's give everybody kind of you know your
background and we'll talk we'll get into some of the stuff i want to talk about the ultimate fighter
and you know just your experience like what's the life of a fighter you know like growing you know coming through it I know it's been you know you're kind
of hitting your stride here you know with you know wins and things like that and doing well
uh maybe later than some people uh but I'd love to just kind of start down that you know
professional journey for you.
Yeah, I mean, I've always been an athlete.
I've been doing sports since I was five,
and I never thought in a million years I'd grow up to be a professional fighter,
but I guess that's what I'm destined to do.
I started in the sport in 2010,
and then in 2012, I believe it was, I made my pro debut. And, you know, the sport has been a, it's been a journey. It's been a ride. It's fun. You get your highs to highs and your
lowest to lows. But overall, I mean, for me, I've had the opportunity to where life is just like,
really set me up to where I mean, I just straight focus on fighting. And, you know, my life consists
of waking up and go to the gym and having some lunch
and focusing on nutrition and going back to the gym, getting some naps in
and repeating five days a week.
Then on the weekends, I just try to enjoy myself.
It's definitely a journey.
It's got to be in your blood, right?
Just the average person, when you think about it, doesn't go,
and I know it's more than this. I'm, I'm like, I know that it's a total sport and there's technique and there's so many things, which I want to get kind of your take and understand your style and all that.
But like beating one another up, you're fighting, you know, daily is just not what the average person wants to do.
You know, like what is it just get in your
blood? Yeah. You know, I mean, I grew up in a huge Hispanic family, so I think, uh, you know,
having a Mexican background, like we're just natural fighters in general, but I, uh, I grew
up in a huge tomboy. I'm the only female out of a ton of guy cousins and, uh, a brother. And,
you know, I just, they called me Rackle McDaniel in the neighborhood.
I grew up playing tackle football on the pavement and just being crazy, always fighting with
the guys.
And at one point I asked my parents if I could box and they told me I was too pretty and
my teeth are way too nice.
So it wasn't a thing.
So I kept fighting my guy cousins and beating up on my brother.
And then I actually broke my back snowboarding so I couldn't take my athletic scholarships
to college.
I took an academic scholarship to the university here in Colorado Springs.
And, you know, I was kind of just going through rehab and getting back in shape and doing things and trying to figure out which direction my life would go in.
And the first team I started with, they were training at the gym in one of the little yoga studios.
And it was more of a joke just because of what my parents said.
So I told my mom that night.
I was like, oh, I'm going to go join that.
She was at the gym with me.
And I think she honestly just thought it'd be something to get me going again.
And we went in there.
We talked to the coach.
And my very first training session was a sparring session.
He just hands me some gloves and some hand wraps.
And he's like, here you go.
And I was just like, what do I do with any of this?
And, you know, for one, I'm an adrenaline junkie I love challenges um just
everything to really push my limits and fighting matches all of that uh and then of course the
level that you take your body to it's just one of a kind so I fell in love and here I am, what, 12 years getting ready to go on 13 years later.
How hard is it to be and make professional fighting a career?
It just seems like, I don't know, it's like anything in pro sports, you know, whatever the lowest percentage number is, you know, like how rare it is for someone, you know, to make a career out of fighting.
Yeah. You know, we always say we're the one percenters of like the population doing this
whole fighting thing and even lower than that. Um, but it's tough, man. It's just like anything
in life. You got to work for everything that you're doing. And you know, the thing with fighting,
just like anything else, I mean, if you're not having fun, then it's definitely not worth it. There are some days that
it's just like, man, my body feels it and everything else. But then, you know, I mean,
times have changed. And so recovery is a lot different and everything. And at the same time
that we're putting our body through the ringer, we have to also work on our minds. So I like to
say that fighting is 10% physical and 90% mental. So days that it gets tough on the body, you know, it's okay to take that break and actually
listen to your body, let it recover.
And then you can work on your mental training and then vice versa.
There's some days that I just absolutely get exhausted mentally and I need to go recharge
somewhere.
And, you know, there's life outside of work, outside of training and everything else.
And so I go out into the mountains, I doing something active whether it's snowboarding or hiking or just hanging out or sometimes i just like to lay on my
couch all day who knows but i mean just like any other job you just it's a physical one yeah and i
want to you know talk about the business of the ufc but that, I think it would be interesting for, you know,
the audience to hear because you don't, you know,
we hear and watch and, you know, boxing,
which was more popular like years ago and now UFC being hugely popular.
We, I think the average person understands at a,
at a high level, the amount of training that goes in but i don't think they
truly truly understand the level of training and what you put your body through so what's
what how could you describe that like so people understand exactly what you have to go through
like when you're training for a match it's always like you know that expression like the tip of the
iceberg that's what people see they don't see underneath the water and everything that occurs. And,
you know, there's a lot there. For me personally, like, obviously my job just isn't only just being
in the gym and getting into the best shape possible and working on my technique and skill.
For me, I mean, I have genetics and I come from a Hispanic family to where my job
starts in the kitchen too so you know I'm constantly working there and then there's just
some days that honestly training gets so tough that my body I mean being 33 being an athlete
since I was five I've had crazy injuries and then the injury issues you sustain throughout fighting
and throughout this career I mean living, living in Colorado, Colorado,
I feel the aches and pains when that winter hits, you know, and so like, there's some days that I
don't even want to move. And it comes down to, you know, sometimes maybe twice a week, I have to go
to physical therapy, and I'm getting dry needling, I'm getting massages. I have a massage every week,
I live in the chiropractor's office three days a week and I'm constantly doing something
like that.
Some days it consists of, you know, just go sitting in a steam room or a sauna and it's
not to cut weight or lose weight, but just to like relax the body.
And, um, other times they'll be at home and taking a hot bath.
And then some days it's just, it's nonstop grind.
So, you know, I wake up early in the morning and my morning start around about 630 and I have my breakfast and make sure that I eat an hour hour break in between. And then I'm back at the gym. And then at nighttime, it's like doing some sort of recovery,
whether it's stretching or just simply relaxing or whatever. And then, you know, I repeat that
for me, I do five days a week and then I love the weekends off. Like you have to listen to your
body. So I take Saturday and Sunday off, but even with that, I'm super active. So I'm constantly doing something. And not only that, you know, I mean, this sport, like I said, it gives you the
highest the highs and the lowest the lows. And it's tough when you're on a platform. It's tough
when you're in the spotlight and when you're in the media and you have all these expectations to
live up to. So not only do you have to work on your body physically, but you have to work on
yourself mentally. And so I do sports psychology in there and it's just, it's nonstop.
What, I know you were on the ultimate fighter. So you mentioned season 18, is that right? Pre
episode. And so what was that process like, you know, and how do you reflect on that journey? I
know it's been almost nine, ten years, but, you know,
it's obviously a part of your professional journey and putting, I guess,
I don't want to say putting you on the map, but it certainly made, you know,
you more of a household name and people aware of you, you know, being a TV show.
What was that journey like?
You know, I'm honestly excited that they brought the Ultimate Fighter back
because if athletes have the opportunity to experience that,
I think it's something that everybody should be able to experience.
It's a really unique opportunity. It's challenging.
It takes you out of your complete comfort zone.
So like I go into a fight and I have an entire support system.
I'm used to my family and my friends being there.
I'm used to talking to everybody right before my fight or, you know what I mean?
Like we have certain things that we do. We'll go get pedicures before like my mom and everybody, we get together.
And before I leave to fight week, we go get pedicures. And then as soon as weigh-ins are done,
usually my mom's my weight cut buddy. And then I have my team cutting weight with me and stuff.
So it's just a group of people that you're used to. And then after weigh-ins, my entire family
gets together and my team, and we're just eating and hanging out. And then after weigh-ins, my entire family gets together and my team and
we're just eating and hanging out. And then the fight happens and the after fight. So there's
this whole routine that goes into everything and having the opportunity to listen to people's
encouraging words or just hang out and take your mind off of things. And with the Ultimate Fighter,
you get chosen. And for us with my season, like we had a fight to get into the house.
For us, with my season, we had a fight to get into the house.
That's where it all started.
With that, you get taken out of your norm.
You get put into a house.
You don't get TV.
You don't get books.
You don't get magazines.
You don't get music.
You don't get your cell phone.
You have no choice but to interact with people.
Some people know each other and some people don't.
You have to learn how to live with 15 other individuals and basically like find comfort in that you're pretty much living your dream like all you're doing is
eating sleeping and training and repeat and so that's the really cool part but then with the
ultimate fighter everything is in such a short time frame that if you get injured like you don't
have time to be like hey i'm injured and all this other stuff and if you say something then you get injured, like you don't have time to be like, Hey, I'm injured and all this other stuff. And if you say something, then you get sent home and a replacement comes in. So it's like,
what do you want to do? Like you have the challenge there. And for me, you know, I had
a fractured forearm. I broke my hand. I had stitches in my eye from just my first fight
into the ultimate fighter where we won five of the season. And all of a sudden I had to go into
a semifinal fight and I had maybe two weeks in between fights and I couldn't even train or do anything. It was super painful. And then on top of that, like you have athletes who everybody eats so different. You have people, they have their own're not going to fight for a couple of weeks so they can do whatever and eat all crazy.
And you have to be ready to make weight in the spur of the moment.
Like if a fight happens and then all of a sudden they line up the teams and they're like, hey, Pennington's fighting and this person's fighting.
You have to make weight the next day.
So it's not like where, you know, we get these six day notices or 12 week notices or whatever.
Like you have to learn how to do that.
And then on top of that, like, um, you know, I mean, you're just kind of preparing yourself. You
have to really dig deep within yourself and find the comfort either in the people at the house or
by yourself. And, um, it's a, it's a really unique journey. It's really cool. Um, I feel like that's
where I really had the opportunity to spread my ring, my wings and just grow as a person and as an athlete.
So you reflect positively on it. I mean, obviously on the business side of things,
that awareness certainly had to have been helpful with, you know, springboarding,
you know, your career even further, right? Oh, for sure. Yeah. I mean, that's definitely
like, it bumps you up there. I mean, obviously it's on TV, so people learn you. And the other
cool part is, is it's not just like Dana White's contender series. Like that's an opportunity,
but they see these athletes and then they see the fight. And then if somebody gets into the UFC and
gets the contract on the ultimate fighter, you get to learn the actual person.
Of course, TV can portray you however they want, but at least it gives you some insight or some background to us as people and not just as fighters.
How scripted was it?
It's not scripted.
It's what I watched of it.
It seemed pretty raw.
Yeah, no, it's not perfect at all.
Yeah.
When you look back, again, I know it's been a number of years now,
but you feel like it reflected you the way you wanted it to?
It seems like you could get caught up in that stuff,
no matter how you're perfect.
We're all imperfect people.
Shit just happens, right?
Yeah, for sure.
I mean I just went in there and I was truly myself.
They did – like I said, TV can portray you however they want to.
They focused a lot on the fact of my lifestyle and being homosexual and into women and stuff.
being like homosexual and into women and stuff but with that being said you know um there was some stuff going on within production and their family and everything and people wanting to
commit suicide and there was a whole background that the world doesn't get to see and they were
just like you know would anybody be willing to like share their stories or step up for who they
are and honestly at the time like i wasn't open. And so the world learned along with my family.
And that's where I really got to spread my wings and stuff.
But it did kind of bother me with the fact that like any time they talked about me, it was just based off of like my choices in life with that.
And so I wish they would have spoke a little bit more as like other stuff as me as a person.
But for the most part, I mean, I am happy with it.
It was amazing.
The people that it impacted, the responses I got afterwards, people reaching out to me and sending me thousands and thousands of emails and letters and different things.
It was really cool how me just doing something that I'm passionate about and me being my genuine self, how it impacted other people.
Yeah. I mean, people really, I think, pick up on that authenticity.
And I think people want to be able to relate to other people.
So I'm sure it allowed, you know, people to see that side of you,
even if it was uncomfortable in the moment, it's been interesting. You've,
you've come up through the UFC and I wouldn't, I't know if the glory years you know is right but
you've you've been in the sport 10 plus years now um you've seen a lot with the business of the UFC
I mean it's one of the most popular sports in the world now um how do you reflect on what you've seen
out of the business side of the UFCc you know kind of i mean it's
it's interesting you know we i had bruce buffer on you know several months back and he's
from a different side not a fighter obviously but talking about just the growth of the usc and just
the explosion of the growth um but talk about you know your perspective kind of coming up
through the last 10 years on the business side of it.
Honestly, MMA in general, just to watch it explode and grow is super cool.
Um, when I first started the sport and as an amateur, I fought some of the same women
multiple times because there was not competition.
Like there was not many women in the sport and everything.
And, you know, back in the day, like we really had to go out there and prove ourselves.
And it's just, it's a male dominant sport but now like it's really cool to see how like the men and
women are both here and sometimes you can go into a bar and you can take a toll and or a poll and
everybody's like we would actually rather see the women fight and all this other stuff because I
think we just go out there and like we we had to put more on the line for so long to so to actually see like the equality in that aspect coming in but then
you know just UFC blowing up all the other platforms blowing up and there's multiple
different things and you know I remember when UFC was like quarterly and then I remember when it
went to once a month and then now it's every weekend
and it's just it's crazy and you know I mean UFC still has like uh when I originally got signed
with the UFC I think they were at like just right around 500 athletes and now they have about 700
so I mean it's still not a lot compared to what the population is, but it's definitely growing.
And sometimes it's hard to be like, who is fighting tonight?
I don't even know this person because it's just booming.
And I mean, it's awesome.
People are getting to make their dreams come true and everybody else is loving the sport.
How's it been, you know, on the business side of getting booked and the, I don't know,
it's a business, right?
Is it more grueling, more challenging
keeping your name fresh,
keeping it out there,
their politics involved?
It just seems like I think the answer
has to be yes on some level.
You don't
need to smack the hand that feeds you I'm just saying like yeah oh there's definitely politics
um I mean it functions a lot off of that and whatnot as far as me like I have a great relationship
with UFC so um you know I've had my highest of highs and my lowest lows and the last like four
years have been a really hard time with me as far as like medical and physical.
Like my body's just changed.
I've gone through a lot of injuries.
I've had surgeries.
So it's been like it's been a rough go.
But usually every time that I've reached out to UFC and I've talked to them and everything, I get some fights lined up and whatnot.
But I know of other athletes who they really struggle.
fights lined up and whatnot. But I know of other athletes who they really struggle and it's just like, they can, can't get a fight for like over a year and they get frustrated because it's just
like, for a lot of people, it's their livelihood, you know? But when it comes to it for me, you
know, I mean, everybody's so worried about like the public eye and like growing and, you know,
getting their social media followers and doing all this. And like, I'm just passionate about
something. I'm super grateful for the opportunity. I'm super grateful that, you know, getting their social media followers and doing all this. And like, I'm just passionate about something. I'm super grateful for the opportunity. I'm super grateful
that, you know, I get to wake up and do what I love. And I just, I'm authentic to who I am. And
my focus is just being the best that I can be. And, you know, everybody's like, Oh, you're
inspiring. You're this, you're that. Well, the stories I've been shared with me, it's an inspiring
circle. But I've never been like me, it's an inspiring circle.
But I've never been like concerned about like all the politics. I don't like to fall into all the media stuff. I don't like to do all the different things. And, you know, I mean,
my manager's like, hey, we got to get more active on social media. We got to do this. We got to do
that. Like it's a job in every aspect. And like, that's honestly just hard for me because I love just living life. I
love training hard. I love watching myself grow. I like watching the small accomplishments daily
for myself. And you know, I'm, I'm not this person that goes out there and is a giant shit talker
and falling into all the hype of everything. Like I just want to go out there and do what I do and
what I train hard for and punch somebody in the face. But Hey, Raquel, you got to build the personal brand. Come on now. You know,
your manager probably tells you that I'll, I'll, I'll second your manager. Come on. You know,
we're going to have, we're going to have opportunities after, after the gloves get
put down, you know, the what's look, you fought some of the biggest names um yeah in in mma on the women's
side i mean talk to me about you know your most memorable fight maybe it's not one of the bigger
names i don't know i know you've had some wars out there honestly you know i mean each one has
something that stands out like you know people like, who's your toughest fight today?
Who's this? Who's that?
And, you know, at the end of the day, like, everybody's tough.
A fight is a fight.
Like, none of them are easy at all.
I think, honestly, I'd have to say most memorable.
I will say when I fought Misha Tate, who was also my coach on The Ultimate Fighter.
So just like, you know know the storyline behind that but then not to mention uh that was the time that it was the first fight card
uh that UFC got approved for in New York it was at Medicine Square Garden so a lot of things were
happening um it was just overall the experience was just super unique it was cool it was one of
like I haven't been on another card like that since
it's just, it was one of a kind. And then, you know, I mean, obviously walking out there
into that arena was just that in itself. Like that is one walkout that I can truly remember
and just kind of just embracing the entire crowd and stuff. And then obviously going out there and
fighting Misha and then her retiring and there
was just a lot of stuff in there um that really stood out to me and like really hit my heart
uh and then another fight is obviously the world title but not just because it was for the world
title like that's like what i was talking about where where the one percenters are doing this but
then fighting for a world title is like the one percent of the one percenters so having that
opportunity was super cool but then it was just there was a like the 1% of the 1%ers. So having that opportunity was super cool,
but then it was just there was a lot that went behind that.
It was like the first time the women were doing stuff,
both Amanda and I with our lifestyles.
They took us into the Cristo, and we got to climb to the top of it.
They've never done that.
So there's just like a lot of things leading up to the fight
that were super unique, super cool, and those are the ones that really stand out to me i think what's what i like about
york hill is like there's so many people that are so focused on a destination i feel like you really
just love this journey like the act of doing it like that's and that's pretty unique like
everybody's focused on well if i'm number eight i gotta get to number two've got to fight this person. Everyone's trying to get to a destination,
but it feels like you just enjoy the journey. Absolutely. I just, uh, I always say it too.
And even I coach high school gymnastics and I always tell all my athletes for one, you got to
have fun and you got to embrace the journey. And that's what I practice for myself, you know,
embracing the journey. I just, like I said, I wake up grateful for the fact that this is my life. This is what I get to do. It's brought me some really
unique opportunities. I've traveled the world. I've fought in really cool places. I've crossed
paths with multiple different, like tons and tons of really awesome people. And then, you know,
I mean, it has its lows and its craziness and the headaches and stuff. But overall, like, I just feel like I've really like, grown as a person and who I'm supposed to be. And
like, just like finding my purpose and my path. And I just I have fun with it. Because at the
end of the day, like, we can't control things. Like there's only certain things that are in our
control. But you know, I can sit here and stress and be like oh I want to be the freaking champion oh I want to do this I want to do that and you know everybody
it's I think the ultimate fighter taught me a lot of that because everybody was like okay get on the
ultimate fighter you have to win the ultimate fighter in order to get in the UFC that's not
true at all like I won fight of the season on there my journey was a lot different but I've
been the most active from my season.
I was the first one to ever fight for a world title.
I fought in the best of the best.
Like,
so everybody's journey is different and that's what it's about.
You know?
Exactly.
What is there a path for you back to the title?
I mean,
I know that's not like you said,
you'll fight anyone anywhere.
I mean,
but where do you see,
what is your path the next few years
as far as on the fighting side?
Oh, be world champion.
I mean, that's the goal, right?
Fights away.
Like I said, I mean, you have your setbacks and you have your highs to highs,
and it's been some setbacks, but I'm coming back with heat.
And so I would like to actually get probably two more fights under my belt
and then actually fight for the world title again.
Is it just so interesting with UFC, like in boxing,
they kind of, if a fighter's not like 24 and 0, they don't have a path.
UFC, everybody fucking loses.
It's like because it is tough. Like you UFC, everybody fucking loses. It's like, because it is tough.
Like you said, everybody's kicking each other's ass.
And yeah, there's some fighters and there's the rare bird,
but it's just such a unique path
because you're going to have these ups and downs,
but it seems like there's always, you know,
a hot streak comes out of nowhere.
Somebody wins four or five in a row
and you're right back in the thick of things it's pretty unique to mma you know everybody's like uh i don't like to take away from
anybody who's out there doing any kind of fighting or sports in general and whatnot but i feel like
boxing like and if you're a boxer a lot of boxers agree but they kind of like pack their records a
little bit and whatnot yep but and at the same
time like you have people who are out there putting their best foot forward and whatnot
a fight is a 50 50 chance like it doesn't matter it doesn't matter what skill level you are if
you're not on your a game that night like hey you got somebody else coming in and do the same exact
thing that you're trying to do to them and it happens um but yeah i mean with ufc you have the best of the best and they
that's i think that's why ufc is so entertaining like they're not sitting here just handing people
to other people they're sitting here making the best of the best matchups and it is truly exciting
to watch and you know being the athlete being a spectator and being a fan it's freaking awesome
being the athlete like it's like all right Being the athlete, like it's like,
whew,
all right.
Like there's nothing easy in this.
Like everybody is tough.
Everybody's in the UFC for a reason.
So you have no choice but to level up.
Yeah.
What's,
uh,
have you thought about life after fighting?
What's,
uh,
I mean,
I know you've got your hands in other things,
but what,
what's that path look like for you?
Or I know you don't, you, I know you want to stay focused on the present, but I'm sure you think about it.
Oh, absolutely.
I was in school before my fight career really kicked off.
I was going to school to be a doctor, and so I have a lot of schooling underneath me.
I love learning.
I don't care what age I am,
like I'll go back to school and do different things. And I have a lot of like credentials
under me when it comes to like physical training and all this other stuff. I love coaching. I love
just being around the athletic world. I'm really into like physical therapy and recovery and all
different things. And, you know, I want to open a gym. I was getting
ready to open a gym and then COVID hit. So there's different things there. I have a lot of investments
and stuff for myself and whatnot. Like I'm always thinking about with like the future and everything.
I love living in the present, but at the same time, like I do things after every fight or just
in my daily life to set up my future. And so, you know, I mean, I want a family.
I want kids. I want to be able to run around my little rugrats and hang out, travel the world. So
there's a lot there. Like, you know, people wake up and they honestly like they have two struggles
in life and like it really sucks and we all go through things and everything. But like
my issue is I wake up and i'm like overwhelmed because i
have like too many goals and too much ambition and it's like frustrating to like sort through
and calm myself down with so those are things that i'm like working on there's a lot in the
works and i uh i feel like whatever i put my mind to it'll definitely happen what um
what advice do you give to people that want to get into the
sport like you know it's probably universal whether it's a woman or a man but on some level
i mean i know there's some nuances i'm sure but i mean how do you uh counsel people i'm sure you
get a lot of questions about that yeah everybody always asks and you know like you're not gonna
have an answer for yourself until you try it that It's all you can do. So go out there and try and put your best foot forward and have fun. And, you know, I tell them it's going to be highs to highs and lows to lows, even in training, you're going to have people of all different skill levels. And, you know, at the end of the day, remain humble and have fun, have fun with whatever you're doing. But I mean, you're going to get in shape and remember why you're there.
Like don't set these like outrageous goals
and expectations for yourself.
Like just embrace the journey
and have fun with it every single day
and let yourself grow.
I like it, Raquel.
I really enjoyed it.
How can everybody keep up
with everything you've got going on?
What's the best place to find you?
And even if you only want to fight,
I'm sure there's places where
people can keep up with you well yeah ufc you know um and then i'm usually pretty active i uh
i run my instagram and one thing i really like is trying to take the time and really
uh reach out to fans and stuff and so you know i i put time aside daily and i sit there and
interact with people and
everything.
And that is,
uh,
what is it?
Raquel underscore Pennington.
And then I'm on Twitter.
I'm usually most active on the weekends with that for fights and go back
and forth.
And so that's Rocky P MMA.
I got this new gig,
uh,
the tick tock thing.
Oh man.
Oh boy.
But yeah, I mean, I'm there. That there that's cool well all right guys well you know
where to find her i really appreciate you coming on really enjoyed talking with you
yeah it was great chatting thanks for having me hey guys you know where to find us we're
the radcast.com search for raquel find all the content from today you know where i'm at i'm at
on all channels we'll see you next time on the radcast