15 years and counting. That's the amount of time Jessica Penne has found herself entrenched in a mixed martial arts lifestyle. However, for four of those, she had her livelihood held out in front of her within reach seemingly begging for its pursuit to end.
Every athlete in sports experiences their own ups and downs, wins and losses are just a part of the game – no matter what game it is. Penne, 38, acknowledges that openly and has perhaps seen it better than most not only in her own journey but by being surrounded by her teammates at Alliance MMA in San Diego. Most notably, former two-time UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz also knows what it's like to have no say in absences from doing what they love.
Mid-commentary duties after Penne's successful return on April 17, 2021, Cruz found himself locked in a sweaty embrace from his teammate. The strawweight veteran never thought she would be able to fight again after the saga she endured.
"It does [feel like a fresh start]," Penne told MyMMANews regarding her comeback to MMA. "It was a bit cathartic. Just remembering everything that I've gone through, the ups and downs, and then after that fight, it was like a weight off my shoulders. There was a lot of stuff I was able to leave behind after that fight. I do believe that it's a fresh start for me and a new opportunity to learn and grow, and just keep reinventing myself in the sport.
"I'm definitely motivated. I've found a renewed sense of love for the sport. There were times when I was going through everything, and there was a lot of resentment and frustration. I just didn't even want to watch fights, I didn't want to be a part of it, I didn't want to train. It was painful but going through all of that I realized how much I really love this sport and I just want to keep learning and growing for as long as I can – as much as I possibly can. Because the future is unclear so I want to stay present and focus on getting better."
Continued: Jessica Penne: The Healing Power of Time and Patience
