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UFC 307 takes place Saturday, so it's time to break down the top fights, plus make DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
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Slated to face Dumont
Aldana will take on Norma Dumont in a featherweight bout in UFC Noche at Sphere in Las Vegas on Sep. 14.
ANALYSIS
Aldana will step on the octagon for the first time this year, and her latest fight ended in a unanimous decision win over Karol Rosa at UFC 296 in Las Vegas on Dec. 16, 2023. Aldana is looking to bounce back after losing a title fight to Amanda Nunes last year, and she will aim to snap Dumont's winning streak of four fights in one of the preliminary fights in this card.
Aldana will step on the octagon for the first time this year, and her latest fight ended in a unanimous decision win over Karol Rosa at UFC 296 in Las Vegas on Dec. 16, 2023. Aldana is looking to bounce back after losing a title fight to Amanda Nunes last year, and she will aim to snap Dumont's winning streak of four fights in one of the preliminary fights in this card.
Wins war with Karol Rosa
Aldana defeated Karol Rosa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC 296 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Fresh off one of the most lopsided title fight defeats in UFC history this past June against Amanda Nunes, Aldana showed next-level toughness here in somehow emerging victorious in a fight she had no business winning. Aldana ate countless early leg kicks that left her hobbled the entire fight. She appeared to have no idea how to check any of them, and it's nothing short of a minor miracle her leg didn't give out. To Aldana's credit, she hung in there and turned up the volume over the final ten minutes, particularly to the body. Yes, Aldana lost the total strike battle by a 204-145 count, but if you're scoring on a round-by-round basis, she deserved to win. It's pretty clear Irene can't hang with the best the UFC has to offer at 135 pounds, but she's valuable roster depth for a company that holds an event most every week. Future outlook aside, she'll also take home a $50,000 bonus here after this Fight of the Year candidate was rightfully given Fight of the Night honors.
Fresh off one of the most lopsided title fight defeats in UFC history this past June against Amanda Nunes, Aldana showed next-level toughness here in somehow emerging victorious in a fight she had no business winning. Aldana ate countless early leg kicks that left her hobbled the entire fight. She appeared to have no idea how to check any of them, and it's nothing short of a minor miracle her leg didn't give out. To Aldana's credit, she hung in there and turned up the volume over the final ten minutes, particularly to the body. Yes, Aldana lost the total strike battle by a 204-145 count, but if you're scoring on a round-by-round basis, she deserved to win. It's pretty clear Irene can't hang with the best the UFC has to offer at 135 pounds, but she's valuable roster depth for a company that holds an event most every week. Future outlook aside, she'll also take home a $50,000 bonus here after this Fight of the Year candidate was rightfully given Fight of the Night honors.
Facing Karol Rosa in December
Aldana will take on Karol Rosa at UFC 296 on December 16, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport Nederland reports.
ANALYSIS
Aldana is coming off a disappointing showing at the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship back in June against Amanda Nunes. She looked overwhelmed by the pressure and will be hoping for better things in December against an opponent in Rosa who boasts a 6-2 record under the UFC banner.
Aldana is coming off a disappointing showing at the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship back in June against Amanda Nunes. She looked overwhelmed by the pressure and will be hoping for better things in December against an opponent in Rosa who boasts a 6-2 record under the UFC banner.
No-shows title fight
Aldana came up short in her quest for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship on Saturday, falling to Amanda Nunes via unanimous decision (44-50, 44-50, 43-50) at UFC 289 in Vancouver.
ANALYSIS
This was one of the most lopsided title fights we have seen in recent memory. Entering as a somewhat modest +260 underdog, Aldana wasn't the least bit competitive. She was battered on the feet by Nunes over and over, leaving Irene -- a striking specialist -- either unwilling or unable to let her hands go. She bit on every single takedown attempt from the champ, leaving openings for Amanda to hammer her up high. When Nunes got tired of beaitng Irene up on the feet, she beat her up on the mat. Aldana's corner was visibly frustrated in between rounds, seeking more action from their fighter. It never materialized. Quite frankly, Irene appeared to be completely overwhelmed by the moment. Aldana earned this opportunity with victories in four of her past five fights. Those four wins came against Macy Chiasson, Yana Santos, Ketlen Vieira and Vanessa Melo, thus leaving many to think she could potentially be in trouble against the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time. That was indeed the case. Having turned 35 years of age this past March, the odds are overwhelmingly against Aldana ever fighting for UFC gold again.
This was one of the most lopsided title fights we have seen in recent memory. Entering as a somewhat modest +260 underdog, Aldana wasn't the least bit competitive. She was battered on the feet by Nunes over and over, leaving Irene -- a striking specialist -- either unwilling or unable to let her hands go. She bit on every single takedown attempt from the champ, leaving openings for Amanda to hammer her up high. When Nunes got tired of beaitng Irene up on the feet, she beat her up on the mat. Aldana's corner was visibly frustrated in between rounds, seeking more action from their fighter. It never materialized. Quite frankly, Irene appeared to be completely overwhelmed by the moment. Aldana earned this opportunity with victories in four of her past five fights. Those four wins came against Macy Chiasson, Yana Santos, Ketlen Vieira and Vanessa Melo, thus leaving many to think she could potentially be in trouble against the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time. That was indeed the case. Having turned 35 years of age this past March, the odds are overwhelmingly against Aldana ever fighting for UFC gold again.
Big underdog in title fight
Aldana enters fight week as approximately a (+270) betting underdog for Saturday's UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship fight against Amanda Nunes.
ANALYSIS
Aldana heads into her first UFC title fight against one of the greatest women's pound-for-pound fighters on the planet, and she gets this opportunity following the early-May withdrawal of former champion Julianna Pena (ribs). Aldana wasn't too far out of the title queue, however, as she won four of her last five fights with three stoppages and two Performance of the Night bonuses. When the cage doors close against Nunes, Aldana will enter as the higher-volume striker, but she's also prone to questionable defense at times, as she absorbs more than twice as many significant strikes as Nunes on a per-minute basis. Nunes also is more prone to shoot for the takedown, though Aldana does have a respectable 81 percent takedown defense. On paper, both combatants measure within an inch of each other in both height and reach.
Aldana heads into her first UFC title fight against one of the greatest women's pound-for-pound fighters on the planet, and she gets this opportunity following the early-May withdrawal of former champion Julianna Pena (ribs). Aldana wasn't too far out of the title queue, however, as she won four of her last five fights with three stoppages and two Performance of the Night bonuses. When the cage doors close against Nunes, Aldana will enter as the higher-volume striker, but she's also prone to questionable defense at times, as she absorbs more than twice as many significant strikes as Nunes on a per-minute basis. Nunes also is more prone to shoot for the takedown, though Aldana does have a respectable 81 percent takedown defense. On paper, both combatants measure within an inch of each other in both height and reach.