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UFC Vegas 73 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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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.
Expected to fight March 25
Aldana is expected to fight Raquel Pennington at the UFC event on March25, Carlos Contreras Legaspi of ESPN Deportes reports.
ANALYSIS
Aldana was unable to come to an agreement with Amanda Nunes to fight at the UFC Bantamweight Championship, but she will get a second crack at Pennington. The two matched up back in July of 2019 when Pennington won by split decision.
Aldana was unable to come to an agreement with Amanda Nunes to fight at the UFC Bantamweight Championship, but she will get a second crack at Pennington. The two matched up back in July of 2019 when Pennington won by split decision.
Title shot falls through
Aldana won't fight Amanda Nunes for the UFC Bantamweight Championship at UFC 285 on March 4 after the two sides were unable to come to an agreement, Raphael Marinho of Combate.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Aldana was poised to receive her first title shot at UFC 285, but the contract was never official and negotiations broke down after being reported last week. The 34-year-old has won four of her past five bouts and is coming off a KO victory over Macy Chiasson in September. It's unclear when Aldana or Nunes will make their next appearance.
Aldana was poised to receive her first title shot at UFC 285, but the contract was never official and negotiations broke down after being reported last week. The 34-year-old has won four of her past five bouts and is coming off a KO victory over Macy Chiasson in September. It's unclear when Aldana or Nunes will make their next appearance.
Gearing up for title shot
Aldana is being targeted for an opportunity to gain the UFC Bantamweight Championship against Amanda Nunes at UFC 285 on March 4, Raphael Marinho of Combate.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Aldana has won four of her last five fights, including two Performance of the Night bonuses, setting her up for her first title shot with the company. She'll enter as a betting underdog against Nunes -- one of the longest-reigning champions in the UFC who recently got back her belt with a July unanimous decision victory over Julianna Pena. Aldana is a striker by nature with a solid volume mark of 5.39 significant strikes landed per minute, and she also sports an above-average 91 percent takedown defense. The concern is that it hasn't held up against high-level competition, as she was taken down five times in an October 2020 loss to Holly Holm (not a natural wrestler), as well as three times against Macy Chiasson before coming back to get the finish last September. Aldana could realistically escape with a decision if she manages to remain upright, but that's easier said than done against Nunes, who registered six takedowns in her most recent title defense.
Aldana has won four of her last five fights, including two Performance of the Night bonuses, setting her up for her first title shot with the company. She'll enter as a betting underdog against Nunes -- one of the longest-reigning champions in the UFC who recently got back her belt with a July unanimous decision victory over Julianna Pena. Aldana is a striker by nature with a solid volume mark of 5.39 significant strikes landed per minute, and she also sports an above-average 91 percent takedown defense. The concern is that it hasn't held up against high-level competition, as she was taken down five times in an October 2020 loss to Holly Holm (not a natural wrestler), as well as three times against Macy Chiasson before coming back to get the finish last September. Aldana could realistically escape with a decision if she manages to remain upright, but that's easier said than done against Nunes, who registered six takedowns in her most recent title defense.
Stuns Macy Chiasson with kick
Aldana defeated Macy Chiasson via TKO (kick) at 2:21 of Round 3 at UFC 279 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It wasn't easy, but Aldana came away with the stoppage win she was seeking, and did so in impressive and unexpected fashion. This was a tale of two fights in many ways. Aldana was the far more effective woman in the early going, using her submission skills to nearly tap out Chiasson on multiple occasions in Round 1. Macy turned the tables in Round 2 and early in Round 3 with her wrestling game, but Aldana fired off a wild upkick early in the final frame which caught Chiasson in the liver and immediately shut her insides down. It looked extremely odd live, but the replay cleared everything up. It's Aldana's third win in her past four fights, with all of them coming via knockout. This effort will also net her one of four $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses awarded on the evening.
It wasn't easy, but Aldana came away with the stoppage win she was seeking, and did so in impressive and unexpected fashion. This was a tale of two fights in many ways. Aldana was the far more effective woman in the early going, using her submission skills to nearly tap out Chiasson on multiple occasions in Round 1. Macy turned the tables in Round 2 and early in Round 3 with her wrestling game, but Aldana fired off a wild upkick early in the final frame which caught Chiasson in the liver and immediately shut her insides down. It looked extremely odd live, but the replay cleared everything up. It's Aldana's third win in her past four fights, with all of them coming via knockout. This effort will also net her one of four $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses awarded on the evening.