Tag: Irene Aldana

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, June 13: Amanda Nunes’ retirement resets women’s standings

Amanda Nunes defended her bantamweight title at UFC 289 and then retired, causing a reset in multiple women’s divisions.

[autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] successfully defended her UFC women’s bantamweight title at UFC 289.

However, immediately after her dominant unanimous decision victory over Irene Aldana, Nunes announced her retirement from MMA. Already having a firm grasp as the No. 1 bantamweight, featherweight, and pound-for-pound, her exit causes a massive shuffle.

Aldana entered the event at No. 7 in the women’s bantamweight division, but despite the loss, Nunes’ exit, and the removal of Germaine de Randamie, settles in at the No .5 spot in this week’s update.

The co-main event of the pay-per-view in Vancouver, British Columbia, saw No. 2 Charles Oliveira defeat No. 5 Beneil Dariush. There’s nowhere for Oliveira to move in the lightweight rankings given that Islam Makhachev is sitting at No. 1 with the UFC title. Considering Dariush’s long winning streak, and the names behind him, keeps his position.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings above.

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Irene Aldana apologizes for UFC 289 loss vs. Amanda Nunes: ‘This will not happen again’

Irene Aldana has “already identified this blockage” that led to her lopsided loss to Amanda Nunes in the UFC 289 headliner.

[autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag] is aware of her lackluster performance against Amanda Nunes in the UFC 289 main event.

Aldana (14-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) was dominated in her first UFC title shot opportunity on Saturday when she suffered a lopsided unanimous decision loss to Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC) in the pay-per-view headliner at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia. It wasn’t close for even a moment, with the Mexican being dominated for 25 minutes in what turned out to be Nunes’ retirement fight.

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In the aftermath, Aldana isn’t grateful just to be there against Nunes. She failed at her goal to bring another UFC belt back to her home country, and she blames the showing on a “blockage” that prevented her from being herself (via Twitter):

It was an honor to face Amanda Nunes incredible Athlete and Fighter. (GOAT)

I’m sorry to have failed my coaches and all of you, I assure you that this does not stay like this… it was a bad night. But the goal is still clear and the Objective is still that 4th belt… I promised you and I’m going to fulfill it… whatever the cost.

I have already identified this blockage, I know what I have to do and this will NOT happen again… I give you my word! I’II be back for all those people who believe in me. If I have learned anything from this sport, it is to always get up.

For now I am going to return to the gym as soon as possible and work Very Hard to earn that second chance.

Always thanks to everyone for so much support and love… and mainly thanks to my coaches and all my team for being at the foot of the canyon in good times and bad. The promise is especially for you.

Aldana landed just 41 significant strikes against Nunes, the least of any in her UFC losses. She also surrendered six takedowns in the fight, while managing to score with any of her own.

The upside for Aldana, however, is that she is still highly ranked in the women’s bantamweight division, and with Nunes’ retirement, she’s still very much in the orbit of another championship opportunity.

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

UFC 289 post-event facts: Charles Oliveira sets all-time bar for finishes, bonuses

The best facts and figures to come out of UFC 289, including Amanda Nunes’ retirement resume and Charles Oliveira’s insane stats.

The UFC made its long-awaited return to Canada on Saturday with UFC 289, which took place at Rogers Arena in Vancouver and featured a clean sweep of results from fighters competing out of “The Great White North.”

Despite the Canadian success, it was a Brazilian who closed the show strong. Double UFC champ [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC) dominated [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag] (14-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) for five rounds in the main event, winning a unanimous decision before announcing her retirement from MMA.

For more on the numbers behind Nunes’ resume, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 289.

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UFC 289 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Amanda Nunes’ $42,000 tops card

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 289 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $236,500.

VANCOUVER – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 289 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $236,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

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

The full UFC 289 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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[autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Mike Malott[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Adam Fugitt[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Nate Landwehr[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Eryk Anders[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Nassourdine Imavov[/autotag]: $6,000
vs. [autotag]Chris Curtis[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jasmine Jasudavicius[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Aiemann Zahabi[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Aori Qileng[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Kyle Nelson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Blake Bilder[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Steve Erceg[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]David Dvorak[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Diana Belbita[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Maria Oliveira[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $3,650,500
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $18,239,500

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

Amanda Nunes def. Irene Aldana at UFC 289: Best photos

Check out these photos from Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in Vancouver.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag]’ bantamweight title defense against Irene Aldana at UFC 289 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photos by Sergei Belski, USA TODAY Sports)

UFC 289 results: Amanda Nunes retires after one-sided title defense vs. Irene Aldana

Amanda Nunes has decided to go out on top, as she retired following UFC 289 in Vancouver.

[autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] retained the UFC women’s bantamweight title in a near adversity-less affair Saturday in Vancouver, British Columbia – and she left both gloves and both belts in the cage.

In the UFC 289 main event at Rogers Arena, Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC) defeated Mexico’s [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag] (14-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-43). The win was her seventh career title defense.

The bout was largely one-sided, outside of a hard punch Aldana nailed Nunes with in the opening minutes. For the 20-plus minutes that followed, Nunes was in her zone. Her boxing was crisp and confident. Her jab battered and bloodied Aldana for the majority of 25 minutes, with takedowns mixed in.

But the most historic moment of the entire event came after the official decision. From the start of her in-cage interview with Daniel Cormier, Nunes signaled she had an announcement.

After the premises were searched for a pair of scissors, which were eventually located, Nunes had the following to say, as she took off her gloves.

“My mom has been asking me so much to do this for so long,” Nunes said. “She can not take it anymore, my family, as well. Nina has been around me for so much with me, my whole career. She’s pregnant now. We’ve been in this road for so long. I decided right now, I’m still going to enjoy everything that I’m making. I’ve got to travel a little bit with my family. I’ve got to spend more time with my family in Brazil as well. I left them so young to come here and chase this dream and everything. It was never a doubt in my mind that I’d become champion. But when I became a champion it was unbelievable – a double champion, as well.”

In her parting words, Nunes also called on her fellow countrymen and countrywomen to claim UFC gold. No other Brazilian fighter currently holds UFC gold.

“I have one more thing to say,” Nunes started. “I come from a small city in Brazil. The name is Pojuca. Nobody knows where it is in Brazil, but I made it here. I’ve become a champion and the only champion Brazil has right now. So, Brazilian fighters, get your sh*t together. Come get a belt, all right? I’m leaving. Thank you.”

Nunes, 35, retires as the fighter many believe to be the greatest female MMA combatant of all time. Her resume includes wins over former UFC champions Cris Cyborg, Valentina Shevchenko, Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Holly Holm, Germaine de Randamie, and Julianna Peña. Her only two losses under the promotion’s banner came against Cat Zingano (September 2014) and Peña (December 2021).

Full UFC 289 results include:

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

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Twitter reacts to Amanda Nunes’ retirement after title defense vs. Irene Aldana at UFC 289

The MMA community reveled in the greatness of Amanda Nunes after she retirement from MMA after the UFC 289 headliner.

[autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] is once again a defending champion in the women’s bantamweight division after she defeated [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag] in Saturday’s UFC 289 headliner.

Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC), who also holds gold at women’s featherweight, registered the first defense in her second reign at 135 pounds with a unanimous decision victory over Mexican challenger Aldana (14-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) in the main event at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.

After the fight, Nunes retired from MMA competition.

Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Nunes’ title defense over Aldana at UFC 289.

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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.