Jessica Penne Stays Focused On The Present

“Six months into recovery I was almost clear and I rebroke (my sesamoid), so they put me in a boot for about 5 to 6 months,” Penne said. “It was the longest that I had ever been immobilized and unable to train. It was tough coming back. It was tough, building up the cardio, the reflexes, the timing, but I feel really good. I feel like there's always a silver lining. I was able to do what I could and focus on other things. I focused on lifting because that was the only physical activity I could do. I focused on my real estate work and building my podcast with my teammate and friend Angela Hill.”

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Being able to have the support system that she has, including Hill, has helped Penne, not only in her time away while recovering from injury, but also throughout her entire MMA career. She mentioned that this fight camp wasn’t the easiest, as she had to get back into fight shape once again, but being able to have female training partners throughout this camp was something that gave her strength and something that she relied on. 

“Coming up in the sport, I really didn't have females to train with, but it's so beneficial,” Penne said. “I have Angela Hill, I have Ashley Yoder, just to name a couple, so it's been really wonderful the way we support each other and get to be there for each other. It's amazing support that I haven't had before.”

The former Invicta atomweight champion looks to get things back on track this weekend against Elise Reed in Las Vegas. Penne is coming into the matchup after dropping back-to-back contests against Emily Ducote and Tabatha Ricci. 

Ten years into her UFC career, Penne knows the end is closer than the start, but she isn’t focused on that, and just wants to enjoy every moment that she is given to step in the Octagon. 

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“I've had so many long layoffs, so I can say what I want, but sometimes the universe has another plan for me, so I'm just taking it one fight at a time,” Penne said. “I'm happy that I get to come back. I'm happy, I'm healthy. I'm happy that I had a good, solid camp. I'm happy with where I'm at in life, so I just get to go out there and enjoy this because I truly love the sport, and I see myself doing it for time to come. We don't know what tomorrow brings, so I'm really here to enjoy it and be present in this moment.”

The jiu-jitsu black belt has earned eight of 14 wins by submission, and two wins by knockout. Her opponent is eager to get back in the win column, as well, after getting submitted by Loopy Godinez last year at Noche UFC. Reed has two wins by knockout and five by decision. 

Heading into this matchup, Penne is focused. She has spent time working on all aspects of her game and making sure she is the best version of herself on Saturday night. And after being away for a year-and-a-half, nothing would be sweeter than leaving with her hand raised. 

“It would be an amazing feeling, getting the win inside the Octagon. There's no feeling like it, but I still have to get there. I still have to be present and focus on the task at hand, but that's always the goal.”