Tecia “Tiny Tornado”Pennington

Tecia Pennington, formerly known as Tecia Torres, is an American mixed martial artist from Fall River, Massachusetts. Born August 16, 1989, she competed in the UFC women’s strawweight division under the nickname “Tiny Tornado.” The UFC lists her at 5 feet 1 inch and identifies her fighting style as kickboxing. As of September 29, 2026, the UFC athlete page lists her status as “Not Fighting”; her most recent listed UFC appearance was against Denise Gomes on November 8, 2025.

Pennington began martial arts with karate as a child, later adding kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA. The UFC says she turned professional in 2012 and had previously compiled an unbeaten amateur MMA run. Before joining the UFC, she built visibility in Invicta FC, including victories over Rose Namajunas, Paige VanZant and Felice Herrig. Her pressure-oriented striking, lateral movement and combinations reflect that kickboxing base.

She was part of The Ultimate Fighter 20, the all-women’s season that established the UFC strawweight championship. Pennington was selected for Team Melendez before moving to Team Pettis following Justine Kish’s injury, and she made her official Octagon debut against Angela Magana on December 12, 2014. She did not win a UFC title, but has remained associated with the division’s formative era and faced numerous leading strawweights. The UFC lists American Top Team’s Coconut Creek gym as her training base. Outside the cage, she earned a Bachelor of Arts from Florida Atlantic University in 2010 with double majors in criminal justice and sociology.