Irene Aldana knows exactly what could come out of her next UFC bout.
The Mexican bantamweight contender takes a big step in her fighting career this summer. Aldana (12-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) is scheduled to fight former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm in the main event of UFC’s Fight Night event on Aug. 1. It marks both the first time she headlines a UFC card and the first time she fights an ex-UFC champion.
Fighting the No. 2 ranked fighter at 135 pounds, Aldana is confident a victory will leave no doubt she’s next in line for champion Amanda Nunes.
“I don’t know what type of plans they (UFC) have for me, but I think, me personally, this is a fight where it is very clear that I could be the next contender to the title, beating a former champion and defeating someone of the level of Ketlen Vieira, who I beat in December,” Aldana told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “So I’ve gone through big names. In 2019, I went through important fights and the fact that I’m facing Holly Holm, I think it’s very clear that I could be challenging for the title.”
Nunes, UFC bantamweight and featherweight champion, flirted with retirement after her most recent title defense at UFC 250. Nunes hasn’t made anything official but did express interest in walking away, having achieved plenty and saying there’s a lack of challenges at the moment.
Aldana respects whatever may be Nunes’ decision, but she think she can sway Nunes away from hanging up the gloves with an impressive showing against Holm.
“Whatever decision Amanda takes it need to be respected,” Aldana told MMA Junkie. “She’s done a lot for the sport, and if she’s satisfied with that and wants to retire, that needs to be respected. The fact that she’s saying that there are no challenges in the division – I think that’s a wrong idea.
“The division is evolving. The division is getting stronger, there’s strong contenders and I think we’re going to see very technical fights, very exciting fights in this division. I think us as contenders, we’re growing a lot and of course we can pose a challenge to Amanda.”
After an 0-2 start in the UFC, Aldana has bounced back and put together a run of 5-1 in her last six UFC bouts. The lone defeat came to former title challenger Raquel Pennington in a split decision.
Aldana’s recent success and growth has been noted in the UFC. Coming off a first-round knockout of top contender Vieira – which won her a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus at UFC 245 – Aldana believes experience has been a key factor in her recent run.
“I began this sport at 25 years of age and I didn’t really have any experience in martial arts prior to that,” Aldana said. “I didn’t even know that MMA existed so I basically started late. You can say I did my amateur career in Invicta FC.
“I was missing a lot of experience and I think I was just picking it up as I fought in the UFC and my opponents got tougher. I was missing that experience, that maturity inside the octagon, that maturity also in the gym as well, being able to absorb more knowledge. So I think I’ve been doing that and I’m at a point that I’m much more mature in the sport. Like I’ve told you, there’s always a lot to learn and a lot to evolve, but I know if I fall I can pick myself up again. But right now I have a good mentality, I feel strong, I feel optimum physically, mentally and technically. I think I’m at my best.”
Irene Aldana: Win over Holly Holm makes it 'very clear' I'm next for champ Amanda Nunes
