Holm Vs Aldana Headliner Rebooked For Oct. 3

Photo by David Becker/WireImage

Former women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm will make her return to the Octagon for a five-round showdown opposite No. 6-ranked title contender Irene Aldana for the upcoming UFC fight card on Oct. 3, presumably on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi.

The pair were originally expected to hook ‘em up in the UFC Vegas 5 headliner, but Aldana was felled by coronavirus and forced to withdraw. The promotion asked Edmen Shahbazyan and Derek Brunson to take their place, which ended poorly for “The Golden Boy.”

Holm (13-5), who turns 39 in just a few weeks, has not won back-to-back fights since smashing Ronda Rousey for the 135-pound strap roughly five years back. Aldana (12-5), meanwhile, is coming off consecutive victories over Ketlen Vieira and Vanessa Melo.

Also going to war on Oct. 3 will be fellow bantamweight contenders Germaine de Randamie and Julianna Pena, while Andrei Arlovski and Tanner Boser trade leather in heavyweight action. In addition, Beneil Dariush looks to rebound against Charles Oliveira.

Expect more fight card announcements in the coming weeks.