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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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+.
Above becoming a UFC champion, Irene Aldana looks to further Mexico’s historic rise in 2023.
Mexico has arrived at the highest level of MMA, and there’s no denying it.
Just six months into 2023 and to the surprise of many, the UFC has already crowned three Mexican champions, with the possibility of a fourth this Saturday in the headlining act of UFC 289. Sinaloa’s [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag] challenges two-division UFC champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag], widely regarded as the greatest female MMA fighter of all time, for her belt at 135 pounds.
Ahead of such an important fight not only for Aldana (14-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) but also for the history of Mexico in the sport, MMA Junkie caught up with “Robles” to reflect on this special moment in time.
Mexico takes UFC by storm
Los 3 campeones MEXICANOS.🏆 🇲🇽
Yair Rodriguez, Brandon Moreno y Alexa Grasso en tour de medios está semana en CDMX.
Mexico’s rise has been an incredible run to witness for the MMA world, but no one has felt it more than Aldana, who has the opportunity to further that streak for her country.
“This is crazy. It’s just crazy,” Aldana said in Spanish. “This is huge for Mexico, and I think this is proof of how the success of our countrymen can push us. This has sparked something inside of us. The win of Brandon then Yair and then Alexa – and we’ve just been rising one after another. I’m sure that my case won’t be the exception.
“(This run) has given us a lot of strength, at least just speaking from my point of view, and I’m sure that’s how it’s been for the rest of them. It’s given us strength. This has motivated and inspired me a lot. I got a lot of strength from watching Brandon win and from there then watch Yair and Alexa.”
The success of her countrymen in the UFC’s octagon hasn’t only fueled Aldana’s desire to wrap 12 pounds of leather and gold around her waist. It has also created a bigger sense of duty as she has the power to extend Mexico’s real estate in the elite territory of fighting.
“You don’t want anything, but to go to the gym and train because you also want to be part of that,” Aldana said regarding what the Mexican triumphs mean to her. “And it’s not just wanting to win a UFC title. It’s also wanting to join them so you can not only celebrate with them but also contribute to this enormous moment for Mexico.”
Guadalajara’s Lobo Gym shows championship mettle
https://www.instagram.com/p/Crll18WutfC/
All three title wins have felt personal for Aldana, as the connection between these Mexican warriors runs deep. However, there is one win that hit closest to home.
“It was just incredible,” Aldana said with a smile as she recalled Grasso’s win. “Our careers have always been very similar. We’ve always been equal or maybe just a step ahead of the other. We’ve always known that we could achieve this, and we’ve always had it very clear in our minds. We’ve always been focused on this. Pancho (Francisco Grasso), our coach, has been obsessed with getting us to this point, and not only this point but also to get here and achieve more. This is only the start of what we want to achieve.”
Aldana and Grasso have been close friends and training partners all of their professional careers. In 2021, MMA Junkie visited Lobo Gym in Guadalajara to highlight their relationship, as well as their gym’s peculiar growth of high-level female talent in Latin America.
Aldana not only saw a fellow Mexican woman make history as the first-ever Mexico-born female UFC champion, but it also prooved her belief that her small gym is equipped to make UFC champions – a tool that sure came in handy in her preparation for UFC 289.
“Watching Alexa making it has given me much more confidence that I too can achieve it,” Aldana said. “And she didn’t just achieve it. It was also the way she did and against the type of opponent. She beat Valentina Shevchenko, who’s one of the best of all time. Here at Lobo Gym, we say wolves don’t walk with GOATS. Although we have a lot of respect for them, we’re very happy to be showing what we’re capable of.”
‘I think I have the advantage’ over Nunes
Nunes is easily the biggest name and toughest challenge Aldana has ever faced in her career. No surprise, as that’s a universal truth across the sport. Nunes is the biggest win any female fighter could possibly dream of.
“The Lioness” is the UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion. She’s held at least one title in the promotion since 2016 and has compiled a list of wins over the biggest and most respected names in the sport: Cris Cyborg, Valentina Shevchenko, Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, Miesha Tate, Julianna Peña, Germaine de Randamie, Julia Budd, Sara McMann, and the list goes on.
This has made Nunes the consensus GOAT of women’s MMA, and there’s little argument to be made against it.
Although Aldana has a tough challenge ahead, she feels primed to dethrone the champ-champ. With Mexico’s momentum and her MMA development reaching an all-time high, Aldana believes this moment couldn’t have come at a better time.
“I’ve been feeling ready to fight Amanda since my fight against Holly Holm,” Aldana said. “Even though I lost that fight, there was a day after that, that I woke up and said, ‘I’m ready to fight for the title.’
“It was from one day to the next, and ever since, I’ve been feeling that way – ready. I’ve been feeling ready to fight for the title for several years now. I think that this is coming at my best moment. I think the opportunity came during the moment that it needed to come. This came at the perfect time for me. I already have the experience that I needed to get. I know there’s a lot more to learn and experience to be gained, but right now I’m ready for this.”
Mexico is ever present in this UFC 289 championship fight. Aldana’s story can’t be told without mentioning her home, and inside the octagon, even the X’s and O’s can’t escape the Mexican influence.
Although Nunes is as seasoned as they come and is perceived to have seen it all in the cage, Aldana brings something new and unique to the table – Mexican-style boxing.
“Technically, yes, I think I have the advantage,” Aldana said when asked about the matchup in the striking department. “In terms of technique, I’m more polished. Amanda is strong and has knockout power, too. I know that she could improve in her striking in a vast way, so I’m not getting overly confident thinking she’s going to be inferior to me. I simply go in there focused on what I’m going to do.
“Technically, we’re obsessed with perfecting everything, and that’s part of our success. I definitely have the technique more polished, but I want to go in there thinking Amanda is coming with elite boxing.”
Watch MMA Junkie’s 2021 feature, ‘The Mujeres of Lobo Gym’:
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.
Champ Amanda Nunes and challenger Irene Aldana had their first UFC 289 fight week faceoff at the pre-fight press conference.
VANCOUVER – Champ [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] and challenger [autotag]Irene Aldana[/autotag] had their first UFC 289 faceoff at the pre-fight press conference for their women’s bantamweight title fight on Saturday.
Nunes (22-5 MMA, 15-2 UFC), who will attempt to make the first defense in her second reign at 135 pounds, will look to turn back Aldana’s (14-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) initial bid at gold when they meet in the pay-per-view headliner at Rogers Arena. Prelims air on ESPN and ESPN+.
Both women have been respectful in the lead-up to the contest, and that theme stayed true during their first fight week staredown after they answered questions from the media.
Watch the video above to see the Nunes vs. Aldana faceoff from the UFC 289 pre-fight press conference.
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 289.
MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the UFC 289 main event between Amanda Nunes and Irene Aldana.
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC 289.
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+.
A couple of Brazilian legends share a nice moment during UFC 289 fight week in this fourth installment of “Embedded.”
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 fourth 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:
Irene Aldana, Charles Oliveira, Mike Malott and Nate Landwehr continue their fight week training. Beneil Dariush faces media and his fears. Champ-champ Amanda Nunes makes history again.
