Right About Now with Ryan Alford - Raquel Pennington - American Mixed Martial Artist

Episode Date: April 5, 2022

Welcome 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)
Starting point is 00:00:00 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.
Starting point is 00:00:48 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,
Starting point is 00:01:01 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
Starting point is 00:01:43 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,
Starting point is 00:02:18 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,
Starting point is 00:02:47 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
Starting point is 00:03:29 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.
Starting point is 00:03:49 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.
Starting point is 00:04:13 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.
Starting point is 00:04:47 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
Starting point is 00:05:36 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
Starting point is 00:06:10 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
Starting point is 00:06:54 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
Starting point is 00:07:35 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
Starting point is 00:08:10 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
Starting point is 00:09:16 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,
Starting point is 00:09:53 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.
Starting point is 00:10:18 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
Starting point is 00:10:49 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.
Starting point is 00:11:13 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
Starting point is 00:11:36 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.
Starting point is 00:12:36 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,
Starting point is 00:13:14 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?
Starting point is 00:13:58 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,
Starting point is 00:14:21 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
Starting point is 00:14:51 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.
Starting point is 00:15:29 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
Starting point is 00:16:13 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
Starting point is 00:16:55 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
Starting point is 00:17:36 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.
Starting point is 00:18:13 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
Starting point is 00:18:42 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.
Starting point is 00:19:11 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
Starting point is 00:19:44 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
Starting point is 00:20:25 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
Starting point is 00:21:16 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.
Starting point is 00:21:43 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
Starting point is 00:22:25 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.
Starting point is 00:22:54 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.
Starting point is 00:23:33 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
Starting point is 00:24:21 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,
Starting point is 00:24:50 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,
Starting point is 00:25:02 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.
Starting point is 00:25:23 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,
Starting point is 00:25:52 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
Starting point is 00:26:22 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
Starting point is 00:27:03 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.
Starting point is 00:27:15 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,
Starting point is 00:27:22 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
Starting point is 00:27:50 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
Starting point is 00:28:31 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
Starting point is 00:29:12 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.
Starting point is 00:29:54 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
Starting point is 00:30:14 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.
Starting point is 00:30:29 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.
Starting point is 00:30:41 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

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