Jodie Esquibel vs. Jessica Penne Set for UFC’s Debut on ESPN Network

A strawweight clash pitting Jodie Esquibel against Jessica Penne has been booked for the UFC’s first card on ESPN Network.

The Las Vegas-based promotion recently announced the pairing. The card takes place on Feb. 17 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix. A headliner for the event has not been announced.

Esquibel is still looking for her first UFC victory after dropping decisions to Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Jessica Aguilar in her first two appearances. The Invicta FC veteran owns a 6-4 career mark that includes wins over DeAnna Bennett, Jinh Yu Frey and Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc.

Penne hasn’t competed since April 2017 after serving an 18-month USADA suspension for a positive steroid test. The former Invicta champion enters the matchup with Esquibel on a three-bout skid and hasn’t tasted victory since a split verdict over Randa Markos at “The Ultimate Fighter 20” finale on Dec. 12, 2014.