Raquel Pennington's hopes of becoming a world champion will come to a crucial intersection at UFC 205 on Saturday night.

Standing in her way will be former women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate, and if "Rocky" can answer that challenge successfully, she will be granted passage to the contender's tier for the first time in her career. Tate has long held status as one of the elite female fighters in the world, and a victory over a former titleholder on the biggest card in UFC history would be the epitome of capitalizing on the biggest of moments.

"It most definitely puts me in that conversation," Pennington said. "Our division is still so small that a bunch of us are going to face each other regardless. You could have No. 1 that matches up with No. 15. You could have No. 2 with No. 24. You never know what is going to happen. You always have to be ready. I'm ranked in the top 10, and the only place I want to go is up."

There is a familiarity which exists between the two women as Tate served as coach during Pennington's time on "The Ultimate Fighter." Over the past three years, the Colorado-based bantamweight has battled to break the stigma of being a reality show fighter, and the work she has done inside the Octagon has allowed her to rise up the divisional ranks to make a bout with the former champion a reality.

"I think it's something I definitely deserve," Pennington said. "I'm ranked in the top 10 and obviously the ultimate goal is the world title. She is the next stepping stone up, and that's it."

And while Tate will undoubtedly be the highest caliber fighter Pennington has ever stepped inside the cage with, their fight on Saturday night in New York City has her motivated on a different level. Pennington knows what will become possible should she have what it takes, and her sole focus is making sure it is her hand that is raised at Madison Square Garden.

That is the way Pennington sees it all going down, and she is confident she will emerge from UFC 205 as a certified contender to the women's 135-pound crown.

"[Tate] is definitely a tough fighter. She always has been. She pulls out some crazy wins, sometimes when you think she's done for. It's about the pressure. Obviously to go out there and finish the fight right away is the best feeling in the world, but if that's not something that was to happen it's going to come down to the person who wants it the most.

"I plan on being the bigger, stronger, and faster fighter. Wherever this fight goes I have to focus on what I can control. I just have to fight my own fight."