Tag: Amanda Nunes

UFC 289 ‘Embedded,’ No. 6: Weight cuts and a birthday celebration

The stars of UFC 289 step on the scales and Beneil Dariush celebrates his daughter’s birthday.

The UFC is back with its seventh pay-per-view of the year, which means the popular “Embedded” fight-week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 289 takes place Saturday at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

In the main event, women’s bantamweight champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 15-2 UFC) takes on Mexico’s [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag] (14-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who gets her first shot at UFC gold.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Beneil Dariush [/autotag] (22-4-1 MMA, 16-4-1 UFC) looks to secure his shot at the title as he faces former champion [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (33-9 MMA, 21-9 UFC) in a big lightweight matchup.

The sixth episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight night. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

UFC Lightweight contenders Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush make their final preparations before the ceremonial weigh-ins at Vancouver’s iconic Rogers Arena. See the intense face-off between the two-division champion and female G.O.A.T. Amanda Nunes and Mexico’s formidable Irene Aldana for the Bantamweight belt. Mark your calendars for the unmissable UFC 289 event on Saturday, June 10th.

Also see:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.

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UFC 289: Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 289 odds and lines between Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a women’s bantamweight championship bout in the main event, Amanda Nunes and Irene Aldana meet Saturday at UFC 289 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The early prelims are on ESPN/ESPN+ at 7 p.m., prelims are on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, with the main card on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

Nunes, a.k.a. “The Lioness”, takes the walk with the bantamweight strap in tow. The 35-year-old was stunned in a 2nd-round submission setback at UFC 269 against Julianna Pena in December, 2021, but she returned the favor with a unanimous-decision win at UFC 277 in July to get her title back.

Since taking the belt off of Miesha Tate at UFC 200 in July 2016, Nunes is 8-1 in title defense fights. She has gone the distance in 3 of her past 5 fights — all victories — against Germaine de Randamie, Felicia Spencer and Pena.

Aldana enters the octagon as a huge underdog. She has recorded consecutive KO/TKO wins over Macy Chiasson and Yana Santos, but a fight against the legend Nunes is a giant step up in competition. Aldana appeared in one other main event in a Fight Night card on Oct. 3, 2020, losing to Holly Holm via unanimous decision.

Aldana actually holds a 5.39-to-4.40 significant strikes landed per minute advantage, although the champ is much more accurate at 57.43% compared to just 43.58% for Aldana. Nunes also loves the takedown, registering a 2.61 TD average, as opposed to just 0.20 for her challenger.

UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:32 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Nunes -350 (bet $350 to win $100) | Aldana +260 (bet $260 to win $100)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +180 | No -250)

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UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana picks and predictions

Records: Nunes (22-5-0) | Aldana (14-6-0)

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

It’s a treat to be able to watch Nunes (-350), as she is one of the most dominant fighters in UFC history. But it’s also a little boring, too. She has won 13 of her past 14 fights, which makes the Pena loss at UFC 269 that much more shocking.

She reportedly contemplated retiring after that setback, but bounced back with a revenge win instead and now finds herself at the pinnacle again — and a heavy favorite to stay there.

However, you cannot risk 3 1/2 times your potential return on the 2-way line. Instead, NUNES BY KO/TKO OR DQ (+100) at even money is a much better play in the 7-way Method of Victory category.

Over/Under (O/U)

No (-250): Will the fight go the distance? is not worth playing. It will cost you 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s just too expensive for not enough reward.

Instead, play a 3-round block instead. Playing NUNES IN ROUND 2 (+400), NUNES IN ROUND 3 (+800) and NUNES IN ROUND 4 (+1400). Yes, you’re going to lose 2 of those ends, but if Nunes gets the finish in Round 2 through 4, you’ll be well ahead, especially if she wins in Round 3 or 4.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

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UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana live-streaming preview show with Farah Hannoun (6 p.m. ET)

Before the fights get underway, join MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun for a live-streamed preview of UFC 289.

UFC 289 takes place Saturday headlined by a women’s bantamweight title bout, but before the fights get underway, join MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun for a preview show right here at 6 p.m. ET.

In the main event, champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 15-2 UFC), who also holds the featherweight title, and top contender [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag] (14-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will meet for Nunes’ belt at 135 pounds. In the co-main event, former UFC champ [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (33-9 MMA, 21-9 UFC) takes on [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] (22-4-1 MMA, 16-4-1 UFC) in a key bout in the lightweight title picture.

UFC 289 takes place Saturday at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana
  • Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush
  • Adam Fugitt vs. Mike Malott
  • Dan Ige vs. Nate Landwehr
  • Eryk Anders vs. Marc-Andre Barriault

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Chris Curtis vs. Nassourdine Imavov
  • Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Miranda Maverick
  • Aori Qileng vs. Aiemann Zahabi
  • Blake Bilder vs. Kyle Nelson

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • David Dvorak vs. Stephen Erceg
  • Diana Belbita vs. Maria Oliveira

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.

UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana live-streaming watch-along with MMA Junkie Radio

Join MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” for a live-streamed watch-along of UFC 289 in Vancouver.

UFC 289 takes place Saturday headlined by a women’s bantamweight title bout, and MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” will host a live streaming watch-along right here, which kicks off at 8 p.m. ET.

In the main event, champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 15-2 UFC), who also holds the featherweight title, and top contender [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag] (14-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will meet for Nunes’ belt at 135 pounds. In the co-main event, former UFC champ [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (33-9 MMA, 21-9 UFC) takes on [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] (22-4-1 MMA, 16-4-1 UFC) in a key bout in the lightweight title picture.

UFC 289 takes place Saturday at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

Below is the lineup of fights included in the watch-along:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana
  • Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush
  • Adam Fugitt vs. Mike Malott
  • Dan Ige vs. Nate Landwehr
  • Eryk Anders vs. Marc-Andre Barriault

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Chris Curtis vs. Nassourdine Imavov
  • Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Miranda Maverick
  • Aori Qileng vs. Aiemann Zahabi
  • Blake Bilder vs. Kyle Nelson

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.

Video: Who do we think wins UFC 289’s Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana, Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” previews the main and co-main event bouts of UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana, Oliveira vs. Dariush.

UFC 289 is right around the corner and it brings two massive fights at the top of the bill.

In the main event, the consensus greatest female fighter of all time [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] looks to defend one of her two titles against Mexico’s [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag]. The bantamweight title fight headlines the event at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on Saturday evening.

Will Nunes record the first defense of her second bantamweight title reign, or will Aldana become the fourth Mexican fighter to win a UFC title in 2023?

In the co-feature, former lightweight champion [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag], in a title eliminator. Oliveira is looking to get back in position to reclaim the title he lost on the scale at UFC 280 before being submitted by Islam Makhachev. Dariush, however, enters on an eight-fight winning streak, hunting for his first crack at UFC gold.

Will there be a new champion crowned in Canada? Will Dariush finally get his promised title shot if he can get past “Do Bronx?”

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Farah Hannoun, Mike Bohn, and Danny Segura preview the fights with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia. You can watch their discussion in the video above and check out this week’s full episode below.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.

Julianna Pena: I will be Amanda Nunes’ ‘one biggest fan in the world’ at UFC 289

Julianna Pena made it clear who she intends on cheering for in the main event of UFC 289.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion [autotag]Julianna Pena[/autotag] wants her trilogy against [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag], and is prepared to be her biggest fan at UFC 289.

Before a rib injury forced her to the sideline, Pena (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) was set to share the main event spotlight in a championship trilogy bout against Nunes (22-5 MMA, 15-2 UFC). Mexico’s [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag] filled the role of title challenger, but make no mistake about it, Pena doesn’t want to see the title change hands Saturday evening at Rogers Arena.

“Irene better not harm one hair on that girl’s head because I want my trilogy, that’s all I have to say about that,” Pena said during a Q&A before the UFC 289 ceremonial weigh-ins.

In their first meeting, Pena shocked the world at UFC 269 by submitting Nunes in the second round. The immediate rematch came at UFC 277, where Nunes avenged her loss in a clear unanimous decision. While Pena’s injury delayed the trilogy, but that hasn’t stopped Nunes from mentioning her foe during fight week ahead of her upcoming bout against Aldana.

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When asked what she thinks about Nunes’ comments, Pena found the remarks humorous.

“I think I saw in a clip she said, ‘I can kick her ass anytime I want,'” Pena said. “Except for the time that you couldn’t when it really counted. So, I really don’t know what she’s talking about. As far as I’m concerned, we’re 1-1, and I actually have a leg up on her because I was not stopped, I was not finished, I was not down and out.

“Like Rocky said, it’s not about how many times you get hit, it’s about how many times you get hit and keep coming forward – and she did not stop me. I was able to stop her, I was able to put her in the hospital, and nobody else can say that.”

Ultimately, Pena wants only one outcome on Saturday evening: A Nunes victory. So much so that Pena is prepared to cheer on her rival for the duration of the contest. But after that, it’s right back to being a title challenger who wants to recapture her bantamweight title.

“I’m not done with her,” Pena said. “This is unfinished business and I’m actually here to make sure that from 9-10 p.m. tomorrow on Saturday, only from 9-10 p.m. on Saturday, not 10:01. From 9-10, I will be rooting for Amanda Nunes. I will be her one biggest fan in the world and after that, you’re going to see the biggest turncoat you’ve ever seen.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.

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UFC 289 video: Amanda Nunes, Irene Aldana intense in final staredown

Champ Amanda Nunes and challenger Irene Aldana had a final UFC 289 faceoff at ceremonial weigh-ins for Saturday’s title fight.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The stage is set for the UFC 289 main event after [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] and [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag] had a final face-to-face encounter before their women’s bantamweight title fight.

Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC), a two-division UFC champion will attempt to defend her 135-pound belt for the first time on Saturday when she meets Aldana (14-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) in Saturday’s pay-per-view main event at Rogers Arena. Prelims air on ESPN and ESPN+.

Before they step in the octagon, though, Nunes and Aldana had a final staredown at Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins.

Watch the video above to see the last Nunes vs. Aldana faceoff before UFC 289.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.

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UFC 289 ‘Embedded,’ No. 5: Fighters balance fight week, family time

The stars of UFC 289 manage the busy fight week schedule while keeping up with their loved ones.

The UFC is back with its seventh pay-per-view of the year, which means the popular “Embedded” fight-week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 289 takes place Saturday at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

In the main event, women’s bantamweight champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 15-2 UFC) takes on Mexico’s [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag] (14-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who gets her first shot at UFC gold.

In the co-feature, [autotag]Beneil Dariush [/autotag] (22-4-1 MMA, 16-4-1 UFC) looks to secure his shot at the title as he faces former champion [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (33-9 MMA, 21-9 UFC) in a big lightweight matchup.

The fifth episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight night. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Champ Amanda Nunes goes for a waterfront run; Charles Olivera calls home. The stars of UFC 289 – including Irene Aldana and Beneil Dariush – meet with the broadcast team and then talk to the media at the press conference.

Also see:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.

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UFC 289 official weigh-in video highlights and photo gallery

Check out the highlights and photos from UFC 289 official weigh-ins on Friday in Vancouver.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The UFC 289 fight card is now official following Friday’s weigh-in session where all 22 athletes scheduled to compete successfully hit their marks on the scale.

Saturday’s card, which takes place at Rogers Arena with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+, is headlined by a women’s bantamweight championship fight.

Reigning titleholder [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC) will attempt to make the first defense in her second championship reign in the division when she meets Irene Aldana (14-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) in the main event. In the co-main event, former lightweight champ Charles Oliveira (33-9 MMA, 21-9 UFC) meets Beneil Dariush (22-4-1 MMA, 16-4-1 UFC).

Check out the weigh-in highlights in the video above and a link to the photo gallery from all of Friday’s happenings below.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.

UFC 289 video: Amanda Nunes, Irene Aldana make weight for title fight headliner

The UFC 289 main event is official after two-division champ Amanda Nunes and Mexican challenger Irene Aldana made weight in Vancouver.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The UFC 289 main event is official after two-division champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] and Mexican contender [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag] made weight Friday morning.

Nunes (22-5 MMA, 15-2 UFC) and Aldana (14-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) hit the women’s bantamweight mark at the UFC host hotel, with the champion and challenger both registering at 135 pounds.

Watch the video above to see Nunes and Aldana stepping on the scale to make weight for the UFC 289 headliner.

UFC 289 takes place Saturday at Rogers Arena. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.