Rivalries: Pannie Kianzad

A faltering first impression laid the groundwork for a consistent course for Pannie Kianzad—the No. 6-ranked women’s bantamweight contender in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Despite facing adversity in her promotional debut, the Iranian-born Swede has emerged as a threatening force in the division.

Following the loss to Julia Avila, “Banzai” sought out prominent matchmaker Mick Maynard, pledging to rise above challenges with a clear message: “I will not disappoint you.” True to her word, she embarked on a remarkable journey, securing four consecutive wins against formidable opponents like Bethe Correia and Alexis Davis. However, the intensity of her drive presents a paradoxical challenge. Her training regimen crackled with fervor and determination while pushing her on the verge of exhaustion, which contrasts with the weighty pressure she feels during fights. Kianzad particularly acknowledged grappling with mental obstacles leading up to her clash against Davis.

Now battling the predicament of two losses sandwiched between a victory, Kianzad will have her eyes fixed on victory when she locks horns with Macy Chiasson in a rematch at UFC Fight Night 239 this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. “Banzai” will undoubtedly be looking forward to settle a score, having lost to Chiasson in “The Ultimate Fighter 28” final.

In advance of Kianzad’s second encounter with Chiasson, a look at some of the rivalries that have helped shape her career to this point:

Eeva Siiskonen

Kianzad turned professional in 2012 and logged six straight wins before getting her maiden crack at a championship at Cage Warriors 74 against Siiskonen. The bout, which transpired on Nov. 15, 2014, marked her first taste at gold nearly three months after making her promotional debut. Kianzad’s dominance shone through brightly, as she picked up a unanimous decision victory with scores of 50–45, 50–45, and 49–46 to become the female bantamweight champion of the organization.

Bianca Daimoni

Between September 2015 and January 2018, Kianzad endured the toughest phase of her career, battling three consecutive losses while failing to make weight in two of those bouts. For her botched weight cut at Invicta 27, Kianzad was fined 25% of her fight purse. An upswing in her career and realignment proved pivotal. Fans were treated to a polished version of her at Invicta 29, as she scored a solid unanimous decision over Daimoni, who, in this instance, missed weight by 3.6 pounds.

Jessica-Rose Clark

In her first post-Avila Octagon assignment, Kianzad clashed with Clark in a UFC Fight Night 163 rematch of their 2015 encounter. She displayed refined striking in the clash, scoring against Clark with stinging jabs and sharp combinations. Despite some spirited exchanges, Kianzad’s technical prowess and control kept her opponent at bay, as she coasted through with a unanimous decision. That victory set the course for a solid four-fight winning streak that saw her notch unanimous decisions over Correia, Davis and Sijara Eubanks.

Raquel Pennington

Even though it remains a stain on her record, Kianzad’s loss to Pennington proved to be a steppingstone and developmental experience for her. She went toe-to-toe with the reigning women’s bantamweight champion at UFC Fight Night 192. The bout featured a dynamic exchange of clinch work and a display of striking prowess from both fighters. Pennington demonstrated her resilience and aggression throughout the contest, while Kianzad relied on her power and tactical clinch work. In the opening round, “Banzai” had a lot of success whenever she got Pennington in the clinch and landed effective knees. However, “Rocky” relied on her experience and turned up the heat in the following rounds, persisting in dominating her opponent for the remainder of the fight. The judges scored the bout 29-28 unanimously in favor of the American, recognizing her consistent output and striking differential. Despite the setback, the contest validated Kianzad’s ability to compete against top-ranked competitors in the bantamweight bracket.