Irene Aldana News

Cole Shelton - June 7, 2023

In the main event of UFC 289, Amanda Nunes looks to defend her bantamweight title as she takes on Irene Aldana who stepped up after Julianna Pena was forced out of the scrap due to an injury. Heading into the fight, Nunes is a -350 favorite while the Mexican is a +255 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight at UFC 289, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to make their predictions for the scrap. To no surprise, most are picking Nunes to remain the champ, although some think Aldana can make it difficult with her striking.

Josh Evanoff - May 29, 2023

UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes has discussed her return against Irene Aldana. ‘The Lioness’ has been out of the octagon for almost a year, last competing at UFC 277 in July. That bout was the Brazilian’s long-awaited rematch against Julianna Pena. In December 2021, ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ famously upset Nunes by second-round submission, ending her title reign.

Harry Kettle - May 10, 2023

Amanda Nunes has explained why she’s happier to be defending her UFC bantamweight title against Irene Aldana as opposed to Julianna Pena. At UFC 289 next month, the original plan was for Amanda Nunes to battle Julianna Pena in a trilogy bout. However, after Pena was forced to withdraw, Nunes received a new opponent in the form of Irene Aldana.

Cole Shelton - May 4, 2023

Dana White has revealed there will be a backup fighter for the UFC 289 main event between Amanda Nunes and Irene Aldana. On Tuesday, White revealed that Pena was out of the UFC 289 main event against Nunes and Aldana has stepped in on short notice. Aldana, meanwhile, was supposed to headline the May 20 event against Raquel Pennington, so with that fight off, White revealed Pennington will be the backup fighter for June’s title bout.

Cole Shelton - April 18, 2023

The UFC has found its main event for UFC Vegas 73 on May 20. The promotion announced in a press release that Raquel Pennington vs. Irene Aldana has been booked to headline the card on May 20 from the UFC Apex. The fight serves as a rematch of their fight back in July of 2019 in a scrap that Pennington won by split decision.

Josh Evanoff - January 26, 2023

UFC women’s bantamweight contenders Irene Aldana and Raquel Pennington could be squaring off in March. Earlier this week, there were reports ‘Robles’ would be facing Amanda Nunes at UFC 285 in March. However, it was later clarified that ‘The Lioness’ likely wouldn’t face Aldana next. As of now, the women’s bantamweight, and featherweight champion remains unbooked.

Josh Evanoff - June 16, 2022

UFC women’s bantamweight contender Irene Aldana believes it’s her turn to get a title shot. Later this year, Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes are set to meet in a rematch for the women’s bantamweight title. Their first outing at UFC 269 last December, saw ‘The Lioness’ submitted in the second round. The bout was one of the biggest upsets in MMA history.

Fernando Quiles - May 22, 2022

Ketlen Vieira has no interest in a rematch with Irene Aldana at this time. Vieira shared the Octagon with Holly Holm in the main event of UFC Vegas 55 this past Saturday night (May 21). It was a competitive fight that ended in a controversial split decision. Vieira took the split nod but many felt Holm should’ve had her hand raised.

Drake Riggs - August 16, 2021

Yana Kunitskaya is going to be taking some time away from the octagon. The No. 6 ranked UFC bantamweight contender teased her pregnancy on Sunday. On April 1, Kunitskaya and her partner, UFC light heavyweight Thiago Santos, announced a fake pregnancy for April Fool’s Day. MMA Fighting has confirmed that this time the announcement is legitimate.

Tom Taylor - October 5, 2020

Irene Aldana has issued a statement after she came up short opposite former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm over the weekend. Aldana took on Holm in the main event of UFC Fight Island 4 on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi last Saturday. The bout represented the biggest test of her MMA career thus far, but unfortunately, it proved a bit too much, too soon, as she was soundly outfought by the former champion across five rounds.

Cole Shelton - October 5, 2020

In the main event of UFC Fight Island 4, Holly Holm was looking to prove she is still the number one contender while Irene Aldana was looking to earn a title shot with a win. It was the first time Aldana was headlining a show and in the lead-up to the fight, it was a pick’em for a reason. There were paths to victory for both, yet it was Holm who dominated the fight from start to finish to earn a clear decision win.

Chris Taylor - October 3, 2020

A key women’s bantamweight bout between Holly Holm and Irene Aldana headlined tonight’s UFC Fight Island 4 event in Abu Dhabi. The UFC’s former women’s bantamweight champion, Holm (13-5 MMA), had entered tonight’s contest looking to build off the momentum from her unanimous decision victory over Raquel Pennington back in January.

Chris Taylor - October 3, 2020

The Octagon remains on Fight Island for tonight’s UFC on ESPN event, an eleven-bout fight card headlined by Holly Holm vs. Irene Aldana. The UFC’s former women’s bantamweight champion, Holm (13-5 MMA), will enter tonight’s contest looking to build off the momentum from her unanimous decision victory over Raquel Pennington in January.

Tom Taylor - October 2, 2020

On Saturday night, the UFC will return to our screens with the under-the-radar UFC Fight Island 4 card on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The UFC Fight Island 4 event will be topped by a women’s bantamweight fight between the division’s former champion, Holly Holm, and surging Mexican contender Irene Aldana. If Aldana wins this fight, the expectation is that she’ll earn a crack at reigning bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, while Holm could also be right back in title contention with a victory.

Cole Shelton - September 29, 2020

Irene Aldana is glad she will still be the main event against Holly Holm. Aldana was supposed to fight Holm in Las Vegas on August 1, yet she had tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to pull out of the fight. It was also a bad case of the coronavirus and Aldana said it had impacted her training quite a bit.

Cole Shelton - September 29, 2020

The 12th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Fight Island 4. We’re first joined by one-half of the main event and sixth-ranked bantamweight, Irene Aldana (2:01). Next, seventh-ranked flyweight, Brandon Royval (16:10) comes on. Heavyweight, Yorgan De Castro (31:10) joins the program. Finally, UFC bantamweight, Casey Kenney (44:25) closes out the program.

Adam D Martin - December 15, 2019

UFC president Dana White praised surging bantamweight contender Irene Aldana after a brilliant performance on the preliminary card at UFC 245. In one of the most memorable fights on the prelims, Aldana connected on a vicious left hook to drop her opponent Ketlen Vieira and pick up the biggest win of her UFC career to date. With the victory, Aldana has now won five of her last six fights overall and she could be in line to fight UFC women’s bantamweight champion, Amanda Nunes, for the belt in short order.

Cole Shelton - December 11, 2019

Irene Aldana believes she is part of a No. 1 contender fight with Ketlen Vieira at UFC 245. Vieira, who is ranked No. 2 in the division, has not fought since March of 2018, so Aldana was surprised she was offered this fight.