BREAKING: Julianna Pena pulls out of upcoming title clash with Amanda Nunes, fellow women's bantamweight contender set to replace her
Amanda Nunes now has a new opponent for her UFC 289 bantamweight title fight after Julianna Pena was forced to withdraw due to injury. The organization has already booked a replacement for Nunes' return to the octagon.
Mexican bantamweight Irene Aldana will challenge UFC women's bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes after Pena had to withdraw from their scheduled June 10 pay-per-view main event due to broken ribs.
UFC president Dana White confirmed the revised fight on social media, stating that Pena injured her ribs and will be unable to compete at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Check out the Instagram post below:
Nunes successfully defended her bantamweight throne five times in a row prior to her shocking defeat to Pena at UFC 269. She was able to exact revenge at UFC 277, scoring a unanimous decision victory over 'The Venezuelan Vixen'.
Irene Aldana, on the other hand, was originally scheduled for a rematch against Raquel Pennington on May 20, which would have likely determined a new No. 1 contender.
However, Pena's injury has directly bumped her into the title contention spot. The Mexican superstar has won four of her last five bouts, albeit she hasn't competed in the 135-pounds in her last two bouts.
If Aldana wins against Nunes, she will join Brandon Moreno (flyweight), Alexa Grasso (women's flyweight), and Yair Rodriguez (interim featherweight) on the list of Mexican fighters who currently hold UFC gold.
Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana: Who else is fighting on the UFC 289 fight card?
UFC 289 will feature a new opponent for Amanda Nunes. UFC president Dana White revealed on Tuesday that Julianna Pena, who was set to face Amanda Nunes in the third chapter of their bantamweight championship trilogy on June 10 in Vancouver, Canada, had to withdraw due to injury. Pena will be replaced by No. 5 ranked bantamweight contender Irene Aldana.
Top-ranked lightweight contenders Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush will square off in the co-main event after the UFC rescheduled the fight originally set for UFC 288 due to Oliveira's injury.
Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush is now slated as the lightweight co-main event at UFC 289, UFC announced. https://t.co/D8Fy19TcTA
Check out the full card below:
- Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana – for women’s bantamweight title
- Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush
- Adam Fugitt vs. Mike Malott
- Chris Curtis vs. Nassourdine Imavov
- Dan Ige vs. Nate Landwehr
- Eryk Anders vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
- Chris Daukaus vs. Khalil Rountree
- David Dvorak vs. Matt Schnell
- Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Miranda Maverick
- Lucas Almeida vs. Hakeem Dawodu
- Diana Belbita vs. Maria Oliveira
- Michel Pereira vs. Stephen Thompson
- Blake Bilder vs. Kyle Nelson
- Aori Qileng vs. Aiemann Zahabi