Alice Ardelean
Romania
Finally earns first UFC victory
Ardelean defeated Rayanne Amanda via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Dropping decisions to Shauna Bannon and Melissa Martinez in her first two UFC bouts, Ardelean was almost certainly looking at a release if she came up short here, and to her credit, she simply outworked Amanda over the course of 15 minutes. Ardelean attempted a ridiculous 359 total strikes, landing 159 of them. There were very few notable blows in the bunch, but the sheer volume was enough for Alice to finally get in the UFC win column. At 33 years old, this is almost certainly a one-off as opposed to a sign of things to come, but Ardelean should be guaranteed another bout with the company after this victory. She'll also walk away with a $50,000 bonus after this opening bout was awarded Fight of the Night honors.
Dropping decisions to Shauna Bannon and Melissa Martinez in her first two UFC bouts, Ardelean was almost certainly looking at a release if she came up short here, and to her credit, she simply outworked Amanda over the course of 15 minutes. Ardelean attempted a ridiculous 359 total strikes, landing 159 of them. There were very few notable blows in the bunch, but the sheer volume was enough for Alice to finally get in the UFC win column. At 33 years old, this is almost certainly a one-off as opposed to a sign of things to come, but Ardelean should be guaranteed another bout with the company after this victory. She'll also walk away with a $50,000 bonus after this opening bout was awarded Fight of the Night honors.
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Scheduled against Amanda
Ardelean is scheduled to compete against Rayanne Amanda in a strawweight fight at UFC Vegas 107 on May 31, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Ardelean was scheduled to fight Amanda at UFC Vegas 99. But after the latter withdrew because of an arm injury, Melissa Martinez stepped in and outlasted the former. Ardelean is still looking for her first UFC win after an 0-2 start with the promotion.
Ardelean was scheduled to fight Amanda at UFC Vegas 99. But after the latter withdrew because of an arm injury, Melissa Martinez stepped in and outlasted the former. Ardelean is still looking for her first UFC win after an 0-2 start with the promotion.
Still searching for first UFC win
Ardelean lost to Melissa Martinez via unanimous decision (27-30, 27-30, 27-30) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
This was a strange fight. Ardelean was the more active competitor and closed with a 92-72 edge in significant strikes landed, but it was Martinez who connected on the bigger blows, earning a sweep on the judges' scorecards as a result. It's important to remember Ardelean went 4-5 in her first nine professional fights. She had zero history of success on the regional scene prior to her UFC arrival, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that she's struggled at the highest level. A loser in each of her first two bouts with the company, Ardelean needs a win her next time out to ensure her roster spot is safe.
This was a strange fight. Ardelean was the more active competitor and closed with a 92-72 edge in significant strikes landed, but it was Martinez who connected on the bigger blows, earning a sweep on the judges' scorecards as a result. It's important to remember Ardelean went 4-5 in her first nine professional fights. She had zero history of success on the regional scene prior to her UFC arrival, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that she's struggled at the highest level. A loser in each of her first two bouts with the company, Ardelean needs a win her next time out to ensure her roster spot is safe.
New opponent given
Ardelean (not injury related) is scheduled to compete against Melissa Martinez in a strawweight fight at UFC Vegas 99 on Oct. 19, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Ardelean will stay put on the UFC Vegas 99 card by taking on Martinez. Both strawweights are looking for their first UFC win, the former looking to bounce back after dropping a split decision to Shauna Bannon.
Ardelean will stay put on the UFC Vegas 99 card by taking on Martinez. Both strawweights are looking for their first UFC win, the former looking to bounce back after dropping a split decision to Shauna Bannon.
Opponent backs out of UFC Vegas 99
Ardelean will have to find a new opponent for her strawweight bout at UFC Vegas 99 on Oct.19, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Rayanne Amanda fractured her arm ahead of the contest, leaving Ardelean to fight a potential replacement on Oct. 19. The 32-year-old holds a record of 9-6-0 in competition, and she lost her last fight by split decision against Shauna Bannon at UFC 304 on July 27.
Rayanne Amanda fractured her arm ahead of the contest, leaving Ardelean to fight a potential replacement on Oct. 19. The 32-year-old holds a record of 9-6-0 in competition, and she lost her last fight by split decision against Shauna Bannon at UFC 304 on July 27.
Seeks first UFC win vs. Amanda
Ardelean will take on Rayanne Amanda in a strawweight bout at UFC Vegas 99 on Oct. 19, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Ardelean is coming off a loss to Shauna Bannon via split decision in her UFC debut. She'll look to get in the win column in the promotion against a fighter in Amanda who is also seeking her first UFC victory, coming off two losses via split decision. After accepting her first UFC contest just a few weeks out, Ardelean should be more prepared for her second go of it in the octagon and given the two fighters' tendency to take bouts until the decision, this could be an entertaining matchup.
Ardelean is coming off a loss to Shauna Bannon via split decision in her UFC debut. She'll look to get in the win column in the promotion against a fighter in Amanda who is also seeking her first UFC victory, coming off two losses via split decision. After accepting her first UFC contest just a few weeks out, Ardelean should be more prepared for her second go of it in the octagon and given the two fighters' tendency to take bouts until the decision, this could be an entertaining matchup.