46 Facts About Jessica Penne

Jessica Marie Penne was born on January 30,1983 and is an American professional mixed martial artist.

Jessica Penne competed in the first women's bout in Bellator Fighting Championships.

Jessica Penne was born in Newport Beach, California, on January 30,1983, and graduated from Diamond Bar High School, participating on the softball and swimming teams.

Jessica Penne's father is the first generation of his Italian family born in the United States.

In May 2009, Jessica Penne became the first woman to compete and win a bout in the Bellator Fighting Championships organization when she fought at Bellator 5 against Tammie Schneider in a 117-pound catchweight bout.

Jessica Penne won the fight via TKO in the first round.

In September 2011, Jessica Penne agreed to fight two-time Girls S-Cup champion Rena Kubota in a shoot boxing bout in Japan.

Jessica Penne was added to the Shoot Boxing 2011: Act 4 fight card against Rena Kubota a week before the event.

Jessica Penne beat the heavily favored Kubota in a significant upset.

The fifth and final round went to the scorecards as well and Jessica Penne was awarded the majority decision.

In February 2012, it was announced that Jessica Penne was signed by the upstart all-women's promotion Invicta Fighting Championships.

Jessica Penne won the fight via TKO at 2:48 of round 3.

Jessica Penne became Invicta's first Atomweight champion when she defeated Sugiyama in the second round via triangle choke.

Jessica Penne lost the fight and the championship via armbar submission in the fourth round.

Jessica Penne faced Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc at Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs Cyborg on July 13,2013.

Jessica Penne defeated Rivera-Calanoc by submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.

Jessica Penne received a "Submission of the Night" bonus for the victory.

On July 3,2014, it was announced that Jessica Penne was one of 16 contestants on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Pettis vs Team Melendez, which would crown the Ultimate Fighting Championship's first strawweight champion.

Jessica Penne faced Lisa Ellis in the preliminary round of the tournament and won via submission in the first round.

Jessica Penne defeated fellow Team Pettis teammate Aisling Daly in the quarterfinals via decision win.

Jessica Penne made her UFC debut on December 12,2014, at The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale, facing fellow semifinalist Randa Markos on the main card.

Jessica Penne won the back-and-forth fight by split decision.

Jessica Penne was scheduled to face Juliana Lima on May 30,2015, at UFC Fight Night 67.

However, Jessica Penne was pulled from that bout in favor of a match-up with UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk on June 20,2015, at UFC Fight Night 69, after that event's headliner bout fell apart.

Jessica Penne lost the fight in the third round via TKO following a flurry of punches and a knee against the cage.

Jessica Penne lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Jessica Penne next faced Danielle Taylor on April 22,2017, at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs Lobov.

On May 10,2017, it was announced that Jessica Penne had been flagged by USADA for anti-doping violation from a March 2017 out of competition sample.

On January 5,2018, Jessica Penne was suspended for 18 months, a reduction of 6 months, due to her taking a DHEA supplement on a physicians recommendation.

Jessica Penne was scheduled to face Jodie Esquibel on February 17,2019, at UFC on ESPN 1.

At the weigh-ins, Jessica Penne weighed in at 118 pounds, 2 pounds over the strawweight non-title fight upper limit of 116 pounds.

However, Jessica Penne then injured her ankle on the morning of the fight and the bout was cancelled.

However, it was reported on April 18,2019, that Jessica Penne pulled out of the bout, due to an injury, and she was replaced by Angela Hill.

Jessica Penne faced a four-year ban from competition from the United States Anti Doping Agency, following a second infraction of the USADA program.

The suspension was retroactive from April 8,2019, and Jessica Penne became eligible to fight again on December 8,2020.

Jessica Penne's first fight after USADA suspension was scheduled to take place on March 27,2021, against Hannah Goldy at UFC 260.

Jessica Penne faced Karolina Kowalkiewicz on August 7,2021, at UFC 265.

Jessica Penne won the fight via an arm bar in round one.

Jessica Penne was scheduled to face Luana Pinheiro on November 20,2021, at UFC Fight Night 198.

However Jessica Penne withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reason and she was replaced by Sam Hughes.

Jessica Penne was rescheduled to face Pinheiro on April 30,2022, at UFC on ESPN 35.

Jessica Penne was scheduled to face Brianna Fortino on July 16,2022, at UFC on ABC 3.

Cheyanne Vlismas was scheduled to face Tabatha Ricci, but Jessica Penne stepped in replacing Vlismas, who pulled out for October 1,2022, at UFC Fight Night 211, however the fight was cancelled due to an illness with Jessica Penne on the day of the weigh in's.

Jessica Penne faced Tabatha Ricci on March 4,2023, at UFC 285.

Jessica Penne lost the fight via an armbar in the second round.

Jessica Penne earned her black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Lucas Leite in January 2015.