Tecia Pennington vs. Luana Pinheiro – Odds and Match Preview

Tecia Pennington vs. Luana Pinheiro is a main card strawweight fight set for UFC Fight Night on May 17, 2025. This matchup carries significant implications for both fighters’ rankings and future in the division, as both are looking to solidify their spots among the top contenders.

Tecia Pennington is the clear betting favorite against Luana Pinheiro in their upcoming strawweight bout. Across major sportsbooks with insider knowledge on MMA, Pennington’s odds are around -395, meaning you would need to bet £395 to win £100 if she wins. Conversely, Pinheiro is a significant underdog, with odds near +310, so a £100 bet on her would return £310 if she pulls off the upset. These odds imply that Pennington has about a 76.6% chance to win, while Pinheiro has a 23.4% chance.

So far, there hasn’t been notable movement in the betting lines since they opened, indicating that the market is confident in Pennington’s position as the favorite. The most common prediction for Pennington’s path to victory is by decision. Luana Pinheiro, as the underdog, is seen as more likely to win by submission or knockout if she can impose her grappling or land something big, but the odds suggest this is less likely.

Tecia Pennington is a 35-year-old American fighter with a background in Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Karate, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She fights out of American Top Team and is recognized for her speed, constant lateral movement, and high-volume striking. Pennington prefers to keep the fight standing, using a mix of kicks and quick punching combinations. While she has a blue belt in BJJ, she rarely pursues submissions, focusing instead on outpointing opponents with her striking and movement.

Luana Pinheiro is a 31-year-old Brazilian fighter with a strong grappling pedigree. She holds a black belt in Judo and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and she has been training in martial arts since she was two years old. Pinheiro’s style is built around her judo background, favoring throws and takedowns, and she is dangerous on the ground with several submission wins. She also has knockout power, but her primary strengths are in grappling exchanges and ground control.

This matchup pits Pennington’s striking and movement against Pinheiro’s judo and submission skills. The winner will likely maintain or improve their ranking in the strawweight division, while the loser may fall out of the top 15. The clash of styles-striker vs. grappler-makes this an intriguing fight for fans and a pivotal moment for both athletes’ UFC careers.