NEWARK, N.J. – UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes thinks she should have been fighting Irene Aldana all along.
It was announced last week that Aldana (14-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) replaced injured Julianna Pena against Nunes (22-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) in the UFC 289 headliner on June 10 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Speaking at the UFC 289 press conference, Nunes admitted she initially expected Aldana to be her next title defense before the UFC opted to make the trilogy with Peña (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC).
“Honestly, this is the original opponent right there,” Nunes said. “… Now we are here with the real opponent. I’m very happy about it. Less heavy, as well, and I’m excited.”
Nunes was dethroned by Peña, who submitted her at UFC 269, but she put a lopsided beating on “The Venezuelan Vixen” to win back her title at UFC 277. Considering how definitive the win was, Nunes was ready to move on.
“Definitely,” Nunes said. “After what I did with Julianna in our last fight, there’s no question. So now (Aldana is) here, I’m very happy for her, and now we’re going to see each other soon.”
Aldana’s past three wins have come by either TKO or knockout. She possesses a Mexican boxing style that Nunes is excited to test herself against.
“Aldana is very, very tough,” Nunes said. “She has heavy hands. So, she’s technical, and this is going to be so fun. I have heavy hands, as well. I’m well rounded, so you guys have to be excited for this.”
Few have been able to match Nunes on the feet, but the champion knows she has to be weary even if she’s the aggressor.
“Aldana is powerful. She can knock somebody out, so I’ve got to watch for that,” Nunes said. “She’s also a very good counter striker. When I set up my shots, I want to make sure I’m in the right range when she attacks.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.
Amanda Nunes: ‘Real opponent’ Irene Aldana deserved UFC 289 title shot all along over Julianna Peña