Irene Aldana Explained

Irene Aldana
Birth Name:Irene Aldana Robles
Birth Date:26 March 1988
Birth Place:Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
Height:5 ft 9 in
Weight:135 lb
Weight Class:Bantamweight
Reach:69 in[1]
Fighting Out Of:Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Team:Lobo Gym MMA[2]
Years Active:2012–present
Mma Kowin:8
Mma Subwin:3
Mma Decwin:4
Mma Koloss:2
Mma Decloss:6
Sherdog:148377
Trainer:Francisco Grasso

Irene Aldana Robles[3] (born March 26, 1988) is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the women's Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of September 17, 2024, she is #6 in the UFC women's bantamweight rankings.[4]

Background

Aldana graduated from college with a degree in graphic design. During her college studies, she grew an interest in mixed martial arts and started training at local Lobo Gym.[5]

Mixed martial arts career

Jungle Fight

In her lone fight with Brazilian mixed martial arts promotion Jungle Fight, Aldana faced Larissa Pacheco for the vacant JF Women's Bantamweight Championship at JF: Jungle Fight 63 on December 21, 2013. She lost the fight via third-round TKO, giving her the first loss of her professional career.[6]

Invicta Fighting Championships

Aldana signed with Invicta FC in mid-2014, and made her debut against Peggy Morgan at Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada on September 9, 2014, submitting Morgan with a rear-naked choke in the first round.[7]

She was then expected to face Marion Reneau at Invicta FC 10: Waterson vs. Tiburcio on December 5, 2014, but Aldana was forced out of the bout due to an illness and the fight was taken off the card.[8] [9]

Aldana was scheduled to face Melanie LaCroix at Invicta FC 11: Cyborg vs. Tweet on February 27, 2015, however, LaCroix withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Colleen Schneider.[10] [11] She won the fight via first round rear-naked choke.[12]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On November 6, 2016, it was announced that Aldana was signed to the UFC and would face Leslie Smith on December 17, 2016 at UFC on Fox 22.[13] Aldana lost the fight by unanimous decision. Despite the loss, the bout earned Aldana her first Fight of the Night bonus award in the UFC.[14]

Aldana faced Talita Bernardo on January 14, 2018 at .[15] Aldana won the fight via unanimous decision.[16]

Aldana was scheduled to face Bethe Correia on August 4, 2018, at UFC 227;[17] however, the bout was pulled when Correia withdrew due to injury.[18] Instead, Aldana faced Lucie Pudilová on September 8, 2018, at UFC 228,[19] winning a close fight via split decision[20] and earning her and Pudilová Fight of the Night award.[21]

Her bout with Bethe Correia was rescheduled and is expected to take place on May 11, 2019 at UFC 237.[22] At the weigh-ins, Correia weighed in at 141 lbs, 5 pounds over the bantamweight limit of 136 lbs. She was fined 30% of her fight purse and the bout proceeded at catchweight.[23] Aldana won the fight via submission in round three.[24]

Aldana faced Raquel Pennington on July 20, 2019 at UFC on ESPN 4.[25] Aldana lost the fight via split decision.[26]

Aldana was scheduled to face Marion Reneau on September 21, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 17.[27] However, Reneau pulled out of the bout on September 11 for undisclosed reasons.[28] Reneau was replaced by promotional newcomer Vanessa Melo.[29] At the weigh-ins, Melo weighed in at 140 pounds, 4 pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit of 136. She was fined 30% of her purse and her bout with Aldana proceeded at a catchweight.[30] Aldana won the fight by unanimous decision.[31]

Aldana faced Ketlen Vieira on December 14, 2019 at UFC 245.[32] Aldana won the fight via knockout in round one.[33] This win earned her the Performance of the Night award.[34]

Aldana was scheduled to face Holly Holm on August 1, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 173.[35] However, it was reported on July 22 that Aldana pulled out of the fight for undisclosed reasons. Mere hours after the news surfaced, Aldana revealed that the reason for withdrawal was testing positive for COVID-19.[36] As a result, Holm was removed from the card as well and the pairing was left intact and rescheduled for October 4, 2020 at .[37] [38] Aldana lost the fight via unanimous decision.[39]

Aldana faced Yana Kunitskaya on July 10, 2021 at UFC 264.[40] At the weigh-ins, Aldana weighed in at 139.5 pounds, three and a half pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. Her bout proceeded at catchweight and she was fined 30% of her purse, which went go to her opponent Kunitskaya.[41] Aldana won the fight via technical knockout in round one.[42]

Aldana was next expected to face Germaine de Randamie at UFC 268 in New York, NY.[43] However, de Randamie withdrew in early September due to injury.[44]

Aldana was scheduled to face Aspen Ladd on April 9, 2022 at UFC 273.[45] However, Aldana withdrew in late March for unknown reasons and was replaced by former UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship challenger Raquel Pennington.[46]

Aldana faced Macy Chiasson on September 10, 2022 at UFC 279.[47] She won the fight via knockout in the third round via an upkick to Chaisson's body.[48] The win earned Aldana her second Performance of the Night bonus award.[49]

Aldana was scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night 223 in a rematch with Raquel Pennington on May 20, 2023.[50] On May 2, 2023, it was announced that Aldana would replace Julianna Peña in headlining UFC 289 on June 10, 2023, in a Bantamweight Championship match against champion Amanda Nunes.[51] Aldana lost the bout via unanimous decision, after being dominated for all five rounds.[52]

Aldana faced Karol Rosa on December 16, 2023, at UFC 296.[53] She won the bout via unanimous decision.[54] This fight earned them the Fight of the Night award.[55] The two women set a single-fight women's bantamweight record for 349 significant strikes. Rosa also broke the record for most leg kicks landed in a single UFC bout with 95. The previous record was 76.[56] [57] [58]

Aldana faced Norma Dumont on September 14, 2024, at UFC 306.[59] She lost the fight by unanimous decision.[60]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

|-| Loss|align=center|15–8|Norma Dumont| Decision (unanimous)|UFC 306 | |align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|15–7|Karol Rosa|Decision (unanimous)|UFC 296||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States| |-|Loss|align=center|14–7|Amanda Nunes|Decision (unanimous)|UFC 289||align=center|5|align=center|5:00|Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada||-|Win|align=center|14–6|Macy Chiasson|KO (upkick to the body)|UFC 279||align=center|3|align=center|2:21|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|13–6|Yana Kunitskaya|TKO (punches)|UFC 264||align=center|1|align=center|4:35|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Loss|align=center|12–6|Holly Holm|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|5|align=center|5:00|Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates||-|Win|align=center|12–5|Ketlen Vieira|KO (punches)|UFC 245||align=center|1|align=center|4:51|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|11–5|Vanessa Melo|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Mexico City, Mexico||-|Loss|align=center|10–5|Raquel Pennington|Decision (split)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|San Antonio, Texas, United States||- |Win|align=center|10–4|Bethe Correia|Submission (armbar)|UFC 237||align=center|3|align=center|3:24|Rio de Janeiro, Brazil||-|Win|align=center|9–4|Lucie Pudilová|Decision (split)|UFC 228||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Dallas, Texas, United States||-|Win|align=center|8–4|Talita Bernardo|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|St. Louis, Missouri, United States||-|Loss|align=center|7–4|Katlyn Chookagian|Decision (split)|UFC 210||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Buffalo, New York, United States||-|Loss|align=center|7–3|Leslie Smith|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Sacramento, California, United States||-|Win|align=center|7–2|Faith Van Duin|TKO (punches)|Invicta FC 19: Maia vs. Modafferi||align=center|1|align=center|4:57|Kansas City, Missouri, United States||-|Win|align=center|6–2|Jessamyn Duke|TKO (punches)|Invicta FC 16: Hamasaki vs. Brown||align=center|1|align=center|3:08|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Loss|align=center|5–2|Tonya Evinger|TKO (punches)|Invicta FC 13: Cyborg vs. Van Duin||align=center|4|align=center|4:38|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|5–1|Colleen Schneider|Submission (rear-naked choke)|Invicta FC 11: Cyborg vs. Tweet||align=center|1|align=center|1:05|Los Angeles, California, United States||-|Win|align=center|4–1|Peggy Morgan|Submission (rear-naked choke)|Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada||align=center|1|align=center|2:50|Kansas City, Missouri, United States||-|Loss|align=center|3–1|Larissa Pacheco|TKO (punches)|Jungle Fight 63||align=center|3|align=center|1:50|Belém, Brazil||-|Win|align=center|3–0|Mayra Arce|KO (spinning wheel kick and punches)|rowspan=2|Xtreme Kombat 21|rowspan=2||align=center|1|align=center|0:43|rowspan=2|Mexico City, Mexico||-|Win|align=center|2–0|Flor Saenz|TKO (knee to the body)|align=center|1|align=center|0:20||-|Win|align=center|1–0|Sandra del Rincon|KO (knees and punches)|GEX: Old Jack's Fight Night||align=center|1|align=center|0:15|Zapopan, Mexico||-[64]

Pay-per-view bouts

!No!Event!Fight!Date!Venue!City!PPV buys
1.UFC 289Nunes vs. AldanaJune 10, 2023Rogers ArenaVancouver, British Columbia, CanadaNot Disclosed[65]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Irene Aldana UFC. www.ufc.com. en. 2018-12-12.
  2. Web site: A picture-perfect end to 2019 has Irene Aldana 'closer than ever' to gold. Drake Riggs. 2 January 2020. fansided.com.
  3. Web site: Irene Aldana MMA Fighter Page . 2024-08-08 . Tapology . en.
  4. Web site: UFC Rankings - The Official UFC App - UFC.com. 2024-09-17. www.ufc.com.
  5. Web site: From college student to professional fighter, Mexico's Irene Aldana looks back on MMA career ahead of UFC 210. Danny Segura. mmafighting.com. April 8, 2017.
  6. Web site: Jungle Fight 63 results: Larissa Pacheco scores TKO, becomes first female champion. mmafighting.com. December 21, 2013.
  7. Web site: Invicta FC 8 results: Irene Aldana brutalizes Peggy Morgan in Round 1. fansided.com. September 9, 2014.
  8. Web site: IRENE ALDANA FUERA DE INVICTA FC 10 . . es . 2015-02-28 .
  9. Web site: Friday's Invicta FC 10 event loses Irene Aldana vs. Marion Reneau. mmajunkie.com. December 2, 2015.
  10. Web site: Colleen Schneider replaces Melanie LaCroix, faces Irena Aldana at Invicta FC 11. mmafighting.com. February 13, 2015.
  11. Web site: Colleen Schneider Joins Invicta FC, Faces Irene Aldana at Invicta FC 11. invictafc.com. February 13, 2015.
  12. Web site: Invicta FC 11 results: Irene Aldana demolishes Colleen Schneider in Round 1 . . 2015-02-19 .
  13. Web site: Leslie Smith vs. Irene Aldana targeted for UFC on FOX 22. mmajunkie. 2016-11-06 . Steven Marrocco . 2016-11-16.
  14. Web site: UFC on FOX 22 bonuses: Leslie Smith vs. Irene Aldana nabs 'Fight of the Night' honors. mmajunkie.com. Staff. 2016-12-17. 2016-12-17.
  15. News: Irene Aldana vs. Talita Bernardo added to UFC St. Louis. MMA Fighting. 2017-11-18.
  16. News: UFC Fight Night 124 results: Irene Aldana outworks Talita Bernardo for decision sweep. 2018-01-15. MMAjunkie. 2018-01-15. en-US.
  17. Web site: Bethe Correia vs. Irene Aldana gaat alsnog gebeuren tijdens UFC 227 in Los Angeles. DNA. MMA. mmadna.nl. en-US. 2018-05-18.
  18. News: Bethe Correia pulled from UFC 227, Irene Aldana won't get replacement. Bloody Elbow. 2018-08-01. 2019-07-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20190706063605/https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2018/7/31/17637534/ufc-227-report-betha-correia-pulled-irene-aldana-csac-mma-news. dead.
  19. News: Irene Aldana vs. Lucie Pudilova is late addition to UFC 228 in Dallas. 2018-08-14. MMAjunkie. 2018-08-14. en-US.
  20. News: UFC 228 results: Irene Aldana edges Lucie Pudilova in three-round instant classic. 2018-09-08. MMAjunkie. 2018-09-08. en-US.
  21. News: UFC 228 bonuses: Tyron Woodley, Jessica Andrade among $50,000 winners. 2018-09-09. MMAjunkie. 2018-09-09. en-US.
  22. Web site: Ultimate Bethe Correia brand against Irene Aldana at UFC 237, May 11, in Brazil. combate.com. Ana Hissa and Raphael Marinho. 2019-02-20. 2019-02-20. pt.
  23. Web site: Video: Bethe Correia badly misses weight for UFC 237 bout with Irene Aldana. Carroll. Peter. 2019-05-10. MMA Fighting. 2019-05-10.
  24. Web site: UFC 237 results: Irene Aldana submits Bethe Correia in third round. 2019-05-12. MMA Junkie. en. 2019-05-12.
  25. Web site: UFC San Antonio bouts announced, including Liz Carmouche vs. Roxanne Modafferi, Aleksei Oleinik vs. Walt Harris. Lee. Alexander K.. 2019-05-16. MMA Fighting. 2019-05-17.
  26. Web site: UFC San Antonio Results: Raquel Pennington Snaps Skid with Split-Decision Win Over Irene Aldana. Harshman. Heath. 2019-07-20. Cageside Press. en-US. 2019-07-21.
  27. Web site: Sergio Pettis vs. Alex Perez, Two Other Contests Confirmed for UFC Mexico City on Sept. 21. Sherdog.com. Sherdog. 2019-07-28.
  28. Web site: Marion Reneau out of planned bout with Irene Aldana at next week's UFC on ESPN+ 17. Morgan. John. 2019-09-11. mmajunkie.com. 2019-09-11.
  29. Web site: Vanessa 'Miss Sympathy' replaces Marion Reneau to fight at UFC Mexico. Diego Ribas. esportes.yahoo.com. 2019-09-11. 2019-09-11.
  30. Web site: UFC Mexico City weigh-in results: Short-notice replacement Vanessa Melo misses weight by four pounds. Alexander K. Lee. 2019-09-20. mmafighting.com. 2019-09-20.
  31. Web site: UFC on ESPN+ 17 results: Irene Aldana's volume overwhelms newcomer Vanessa Melo. 2019-09-22. MMA Junkie. en. 2019-09-22.
  32. Web site: Irene Aldana vs. Ketlen Vieira set for UFC 245. MMAFighting.com. Danny Segura. 2019-10-10. 2019-10-10.
  33. Web site: Knockout! Watch Aldana Destroy Vieira Early At UFC 245. Hiergesell. Dan. 2019-12-14. MMAmania.com. en. 2019-12-15.
  34. Web site: UFC 245 Bonuses, Live Gate, & Attendance Revealed. 2019-12-15. mmanews.com. Fernando Quiles Jr.. 2019-12-15.
  35. Web site: DNA. MMA. Holly Holm vs. Irene Aldana als main event op 1 augustus. 8 June 2020. 2020-06-12. en-US.
  36. Web site: Irene Aldana: COVID-19 positive scratched fight with Holly Holm at Aug. 1 UFC event. Steven Marrocco. mmafighting.com. July 22, 2020.
  37. Web site: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan promoted to UFC on ESPN+ 31 headliner after Holm vs. Aldana postponed. Danny Segura. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. 2020-07-22. 2020-07-22.
  38. Web site: Irene Aldana tests positive for coronavirus, bout with Holly Holm reportedly rescheduled for October. David Tees. fightful.com. 2020-07-22. 2020-07-29.
  39. Web site: Doherty. Dan. 2020-10-04. UFC Fight Island 4 Results: Holly Holm Puts On Striking Clinic Against Irene Aldana. 2020-10-04. Cageside Press. en-US.
  40. Web site: 2021-05-04. Irene Aldana vs. Yana Kunitskaya targeted for UFC 264 in July. mmafighting.com. Mike Heck. 2021-05-04.
  41. Web site: UFC 264 weigh-in results: One miss on main card, but full lineup set . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Staff. 2021-07-09. 2021-07-09.
  42. Web site: Anderson. Jay. 2021-07-10. UFC 264 Results: Irene Aldana Drops Yana Kunitskaya, Secures TKO Finish. 2021-07-11. Cageside Press. en-US.
  43. Web site: Germaine de Randamie vs. Irene Aldana Added to UFC 268 in NYC. cagesidepress.com. Jay Anderson. 2021-08-28. 2021-08-28.
  44. Web site: BREAKING: Germaine de Randamie Out of Her UFC 268 Fight Against Irene Aldana . essentiallysports.com. Darryl Pinto. 2021-09-08. 2021-09-08.
  45. Web site: DNA. MMA. 2021-12-30. Irene Aldana vs. Aspen Ladd tijdens UFC 273. 2021-12-30. MMA DNA. en-US.
  46. Web site: With Irene Aldana out, Raquel Pennington steps in to face Aspen Ladd at UFC 273. mmafighting.com. Mike Heck. 2022-03-26. 2022-03-27.
  47. Web site: Segura. Danny. 2022-06-23. Irene Aldana returns at UFC 279, set to face Macy Chiasson at bantamweight. 2022-06-24. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  48. Web site: Doherty . Dan . 2022-09-10 . UFC 279: Grounded Irene Aldana Scores Unlikely TKO Over Macy Chiasson . 2022-09-11 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  49. Web site: UFC 279 bonuses: Nate Diaz banks $50K with first finish since 2016. mmamania.com. Dan Hiergesell. 2022-09-11. 2022-09-11.
  50. Web site: 2023-04-18 . Irene Aldana vs. Raquel Pennington main event among additions to UFC card May 20 . 2023-04-19 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  51. Web site: 2023-05-02. Irene Aldana replaces Julianna Peña at UFC 289, challenges Amanda Nunes for title . 2023-05-02. MMA Junkie . en-US.
  52. Web site: Dewar . Val . 2023-06-11 . UFC 289: Amanda Nunes Wins Dominant Decision Over Irene Aldana, Retires . 2023-06-11 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  53. News: Irene Aldana Booked For UFC Return After Title Loss To Amanda Nunes, Opponent Revealed . en-us . MMA News UFC News, Results & Interviews . 2023-09-28.
  54. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2023-12-16 . UFC 296: Irene Aldana Gets Past Karol Rosa in Bloody, Electrifying War . 2023-12-16 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  55. Web site: UFC 296 Bonus Report: Irene Aldana and Karol Rosa earn ‘FOTN’ honors. bjpenn.com. Chris Taylor. 2023-12-16. 2023-12-16.
  56. Web site: 2023-12-17 . Bonus Coverage UFC 296: Edwards vs Covington . 2023-12-17 . UFC.com . en.
  57. Web site: Record Book Fight . 2023-12-17 . statleaders.ufc.com.
  58. Web site: Record Book Fight(Comb.) . 2023-12-17 . statleaders.ufc.com.
  59. News: Noche UFC News: Sphere Event Adds Mexican Talent with Five Confirmed Fights . en . Sports Illustrated MMA News, Analysis and More . 2024-07-05.
  60. Web site: UFC 306: Norma Dumont Wins Bloody Battle with Irene Aldana. cagesidepress.com. Staff. 2024-09-14. 2024-09-14.
  61. News: UFC on FOX 22 bonuses: Leslie Smith vs. Irene Aldana nabs 'Fight of the Night' honors. 2016-12-18. MMAjunkie. 2018-09-09. en-US.
  62. Web site: UFC Records - Women's Bantamweight . statleaders.ufc.com. 2024-01-20.
  63. Web site: MMA Junkie's 'Knockout of the Month' for December: An unbeaten streak ends in one punch. January 1, 2020. mmajunkie.com.
  64. Web site: Irene Aldana MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com. Sherdog.com. Sherdog. 2019-09-21.
  65. Web site: UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana MMA Event . Tapology . en.

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