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UFC 297 takes place Saturday, and Jon Litterine is back to break down the top fights, plus offer his DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
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UFC 296 takes place Saturday, and Jon Litterine is back to break down the top fights, plus offer his DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
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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.
Fighting for title
Aldana will replace Julianna Pena in the bantamweight championship fight at UFC 289 in Vancouver on June 10 against Amanda Nunes, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Aldana has a career record of 14-6 but will take on Nunes for the biggest fight of her career. Aldana has a career takedown defense of 80 percent, which should prove valuable against Nunes' tendency to win via submission.
Aldana has a career record of 14-6 but will take on Nunes for the biggest fight of her career. Aldana has a career takedown defense of 80 percent, which should prove valuable against Nunes' tendency to win via submission.
To main event 73
Aldana is slated to square off against Raquel Pennington at UFC 73 on May 20, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Aldana previously loss to Pennington via split decision in a bout back in July of 2019. The winner of this rematch is expected to draw the winner of Amanda Nunes' and Julianna Pena's trilogy and get a shot at the UFC women's bantamweight championship. Aldana currently sports the No. 6 ranking in that divison and has won four of her previous five fights. Meanwhile, Pennington is ranked No. 3 and a winner of five straight.
Aldana previously loss to Pennington via split decision in a bout back in July of 2019. The winner of this rematch is expected to draw the winner of Amanda Nunes' and Julianna Pena's trilogy and get a shot at the UFC women's bantamweight championship. Aldana currently sports the No. 6 ranking in that divison and has won four of her previous five fights. Meanwhile, Pennington is ranked No. 3 and a winner of five straight.