UFC 297 Co-Main Event Loser Reveals Injury Suffered in Fight

UFC 297's co-main bantamweight title fight left a bad taste in the mouths of many fight fans. 

Raquel "Rocky" Pennington claimed the vacant title in a so-so affair with Mayra Bueno Silva. However, the latter fighter is now claiming an injury affected her performance.

"Raquel hit me hard in the ear and partially tore my eardrum and I kind of lost balance," Bueno Silva told MMA Fighting. ".... I couldn't read the fight and know what was happening after the strike. .... Kudos to her for landing a good strike that took me out of the fight."

It still didn't prevent critics from panning the fight, however, as notable figures like Brendan Schaub called the performance "probably the worst title fight of all time."

Bueno Silva isn't letting the loss affect her trajectory, and she targets Irene Aldana or the winner of Holly Holm vs. Kayla Harrison for her next fight. "In good days and in bad days, I will forever give you glory," Bueno Silva remarked in an Instagram post.

Bueno Silva has already fought and defeated Holm in 2023, finishing "The Preacher's Daughter" by ninja choke. The win was later overturned due to a drug test result from Bueno Silva.