Irene Aldana
Born (1988-03-26) March 26, 1988 (age 36)
Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb)
DivisionBantamweight
Reach69 in (175 cm)[1]
Fighting out ofGuadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
TeamLobo Gym[2]
Years active2012–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total22
Wins15
By knockout8
By submission3
By decision4
Losses7
By knockout2
By decision5
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Irene Aldana (born March 26, 1988) is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the Women’s Bantamweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of January 23, 2024, she is #4 in the UFC women's bantamweight rankings and as of March 26, 2024, she is #15 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings[3] and as of April 16, 2024, she is #5 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 UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi.[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 UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana.[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]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
22 matches 15 wins 7 losses
By knockout 8 2
By submission 3 0
By decision 4 5
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 15–7 Karol Rosa Decision (unanimous) UFC 296 December 16, 2023 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Fight of the Night.
Loss 14–7 Amanda Nunes Decision (unanimous) UFC 289 June 10, 2023 5 5:00 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada For the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship.
Win 14–6 Macy Chiasson KO (upkick to the body) UFC 279 September 10, 2022 3 2:21 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Catchweight (140 lb) bout. Performance of the Night.
Win 13–6 Yana Kunitskaya TKO (punches) UFC 264 July 10, 2021 1 4:35 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Catchweight (139.5 lb) bout; Aldana missed weight.
Loss 12–6 Holly Holm Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana October 4, 2020 5 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 12–5 Ketlen Vieira KO (punches) UFC 245 December 14, 2019 1 4:51 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 11–5 Vanessa Melo Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens September 21, 2019 3 5:00 Mexico City, Mexico Catchweight (140 lb) bout; Melo missed weight.
Loss 10–5 Raquel Pennington Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Edwards July 20, 2019 3 5:00 San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win 10–4 Bethe Correia Submission (armbar) UFC 237 May 11, 2019 3 3:24 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Catchweight (141 lb) bout; Correia missed weight.
Win 9–4 Lucie Pudilová Decision (split) UFC 228 September 8, 2018 3 5:00 Dallas, Texas, United States Fight of the Night.
Win 8–4 Talita Bernardo Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi January 14, 2018 3 5:00 St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Loss 7–4 Katlyn Chookagian Decision (split) UFC 210 April 8, 2017 3 5:00 Buffalo, New York, United States
Loss 7–3 Leslie Smith Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: VanZant vs. Waterson December 17, 2016 3 5:00 Sacramento, California, United States Fight of the Night.
Win 7–2 Faith Van Duin TKO (punches) Invicta FC 19: Maia vs. Modafferi September 23, 2016 1 4:57 Kansas City, Missouri, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 6–2 Jessamyn Duke TKO (punches) Invicta FC 16: Hamasaki vs. Brown March 11, 2016 1 3:08 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Catchweight (136.6 lb) bout; Aldana missed weight.
Loss 5–2 Tonya Evinger TKO (punches) Invicta FC 13: Cyborg vs. Van Duin July 9, 2015 4 4:38 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States For the vacant Invicta FC Bantamweight Championship.
Win 5–1 Colleen Schneider Submission (rear-naked choke) Invicta FC 11: Cyborg vs. Tweet February 27, 2015 1 1:05 Los Angeles, California, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 4–1 Peggy Morgan Submission (rear-naked choke) Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada September 9, 2014 1 2:50 Kansas City, Missouri, United States Performance of the Night.
Loss 3–1 Larissa Pacheco TKO (punches) Jungle Fight 63 December 21, 2013 3 1:50 Belém, Brazil For the vacant Jungle Fight Women's Bantamweight Championship.
Win 3–0 Mayra Arce KO (spinning wheel kick and punches) Xtreme Kombat 21 October 12, 2013 1 0:43 Mexico City, Mexico
Win 2–0 Flor Saenz TKO (knee to the body) 1 0:20
Win 1–0 Sandra del Rincon KO (knees and punches) GEX: Old Jack's Fight Night October 17, 2012 1 0:15 Zapopan, Mexico

[62]

Pay-per-view bouts

No Event Fight Date Venue City PPV buys
1. UFC 289 Nunes vs. Aldana June 10, 2023 Rogers Arena Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Not Disclosed[63]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Irene Aldana | UFC". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  2. ^ Drake Riggs (2 January 2020). "A picture-perfect end to 2019 has Irene Aldana 'closer than ever' to gold". fansided.com.
  3. ^ "UFC Rankings, Division Rankings, P4P rankings, UFC Champions | UFC.com". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  4. ^ "UFC Rankings, Division Rankings, P4P rankings, UFC Champions | UFC.com". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  5. ^ Danny Segura (April 8, 2017). "From college student to professional fighter, Mexico's Irene Aldana looks back on MMA career ahead of UFC 210". mmafighting.com.
  6. ^ "Jungle Fight 63 results: Larissa Pacheco scores TKO, becomes first female champion". mmafighting.com. December 21, 2013.
  7. ^ "Invicta FC 8 results: Irene Aldana brutalizes Peggy Morgan in Round 1". fansided.com. September 9, 2014.
  8. ^ "IRENE ALDANA FUERA DE INVICTA FC 10". Vice (in Spanish). Retrieved 2015-02-28.
  9. ^ "Friday's Invicta FC 10 event loses Irene Aldana vs. Marion Reneau". mmajunkie.com. December 2, 2015.
  10. ^ "Colleen Schneider replaces Melanie LaCroix, faces Irena Aldana at Invicta FC 11". mmafighting.com. February 13, 2015.
  11. ^ "Colleen Schneider Joins Invicta FC, Faces Irene Aldana at Invicta FC 11". invictafc.com. February 13, 2015.
  12. ^ "Invicta FC 11 results: Irene Aldana demolishes Colleen Schneider in Round 1". SI. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  13. ^ Steven Marrocco (2016-11-06). "Leslie Smith vs. Irene Aldana targeted for UFC on FOX 22". mmajunkie. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  14. ^ Staff (2016-12-17). "UFC on FOX 22 bonuses: Leslie Smith vs. Irene Aldana nabs 'Fight of the Night' honors". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  15. ^ "Irene Aldana vs. Talita Bernardo added to UFC St. Louis". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
  16. ^ "UFC Fight Night 124 results: Irene Aldana outworks Talita Bernardo for decision sweep". MMAjunkie. 2018-01-15. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  17. ^ DNA, MMA. "Bethe Correia vs. Irene Aldana gaat alsnog gebeuren tijdens UFC 227 in Los Angeles". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  18. ^ "Bethe Correia pulled from UFC 227, Irene Aldana won't get replacement". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  19. ^ "Irene Aldana vs. Lucie Pudilova is late addition to UFC 228 in Dallas". MMAjunkie. 2018-08-14. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  20. ^ "UFC 228 results: Irene Aldana edges Lucie Pudilova in three-round instant classic". MMAjunkie. 2018-09-08. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
  21. ^ a b "UFC 228 bonuses: Tyron Woodley, Jessica Andrade among $50,000 winners". MMAjunkie. 2018-09-09. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  22. ^ Ana Hissa and Raphael Marinho (2019-02-20). "Ultimate Bethe Correia brand against Irene Aldana at UFC 237, May 11, in Brazil" (in Portuguese). combate.com. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  23. ^ Carroll, Peter (2019-05-10). "Video: Bethe Correia badly misses weight for UFC 237 bout with Irene Aldana". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  24. ^ "UFC 237 results: Irene Aldana submits Bethe Correia in third round". MMA Junkie. 2019-05-12. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
  25. ^ Lee, Alexander K. (2019-05-16). "UFC San Antonio bouts announced, including Liz Carmouche vs. Roxanne Modafferi, Aleksei Oleinik vs. Walt Harris". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  26. ^ Harshman, Heath (2019-07-20). "UFC San Antonio Results: Raquel Pennington Snaps Skid with Split-Decision Win Over Irene Aldana". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  27. ^ Sherdog.com. "Sergio Pettis vs. Alex Perez, Two Other Contests Confirmed for UFC Mexico City on Sept. 21". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  28. ^ Morgan, John (2019-09-11). "Marion Reneau out of planned bout with Irene Aldana at next week's UFC on ESPN+ 17". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
  29. ^ Diego Ribas (2019-09-11). "Vanessa 'Miss Sympathy' replaces Marion Reneau to fight at UFC Mexico". esportes.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2019-09-11. (in Portuguese)
  30. ^ Alexander K. Lee (2019-09-20). "UFC Mexico City weigh-in results: Short-notice replacement Vanessa Melo misses weight by four pounds". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  31. ^ "UFC on ESPN+ 17 results: Irene Aldana's volume overwhelms newcomer Vanessa Melo". MMA Junkie. 2019-09-22. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  32. ^ Danny Segura (2019-10-10). "Irene Aldana vs. Ketlen Vieira set for UFC 245". MMAFighting.com. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
  33. ^ Hiergesell, Dan (2019-12-14). "Knockout! Watch Aldana Destroy Vieira Early At UFC 245". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  34. ^ a b Fernando Quiles Jr. (2019-12-15). "UFC 245 Bonuses, Live Gate, & Attendance Revealed". mmanews.com. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  35. ^ DNA, MMA (8 June 2020). "Holly Holm vs. Irene Aldana als main event op 1 augustus". Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  36. ^ Steven Marrocco (July 22, 2020). "Irene Aldana: COVID-19 positive scratched fight with Holly Holm at Aug. 1 UFC event". mmafighting.com.
  37. ^ Danny Segura (2020-07-22). "Brunson vs. Shahbazyan promoted to UFC on ESPN+ 31 headliner after Holm vs. Aldana postponed". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  38. ^ David Tees (2020-07-22). "Irene Aldana tests positive for coronavirus, bout with Holly Holm reportedly rescheduled for October". fightful.com. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  39. ^ Doherty, Dan (2020-10-04). "UFC Fight Island 4 Results: Holly Holm Puts On Striking Clinic Against Irene Aldana". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  40. ^ Mike Heck (2021-05-04). "Irene Aldana vs. Yana Kunitskaya targeted for UFC 264 in July". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  41. ^ Staff (2021-07-09). "UFC 264 weigh-in results: One miss on main card, but full lineup set". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  42. ^ Anderson, Jay (2021-07-10). "UFC 264 Results: Irene Aldana Drops Yana Kunitskaya, Secures TKO Finish". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  43. ^ Jay Anderson (2021-08-28). "Germaine de Randamie vs. Irene Aldana Added to UFC 268 in NYC". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  44. ^ Darryl Pinto (2021-09-08). "BREAKING: Germaine de Randamie Out of Her UFC 268 Fight Against Irene Aldana". essentiallysports.com. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  45. ^ DNA, MMA (2021-12-30). "Irene Aldana vs. Aspen Ladd tijdens UFC 273". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  46. ^ Mike Heck (2022-03-26). "With Irene Aldana out, Raquel Pennington steps in to face Aspen Ladd at UFC 273". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  47. ^ Segura, Danny (2022-06-23). "Irene Aldana returns at UFC 279, set to face Macy Chiasson at bantamweight". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
  48. ^ Doherty, Dan (2022-09-10). "UFC 279: Grounded Irene Aldana Scores Unlikely TKO Over Macy Chiasson". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  49. ^ a b Dan Hiergesell (2022-09-11). "UFC 279 bonuses: Nate Diaz banks $50K with first finish since 2016". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  50. ^ "Irene Aldana vs. Raquel Pennington main event among additions to UFC card May 20". MMA Junkie. 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  51. ^ "Irene Aldana replaces Julianna Peña at UFC 289, challenges Amanda Nunes for title". MMA Junkie. 2023-05-02. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  52. ^ Dewar, Val (2023-06-11). "UFC 289: Amanda Nunes Wins Dominant Decision Over Irene Aldana, Retires". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  53. ^ "Irene Aldana Booked For UFC Return After Title Loss To Amanda Nunes, Opponent Revealed". MMA News | UFC News, Results & Interviews. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  54. ^ Anderson, Jay (2023-12-16). "UFC 296: Irene Aldana Gets Past Karol Rosa in Bloody, Electrifying War". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  55. ^ a b Chris Taylor (2023-12-16). "UFC 296 Bonus Report: Irene Aldana and Karol Rosa earn 'FOTN' honors". bjpenn.com. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  56. ^ "Bonus Coverage | UFC 296: Edwards vs Covington". UFC.com. 2023-12-17. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  57. ^ "Record Book | Fight". statleaders.ufc.com. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  58. ^ "Record Book | Fight(Comb.)". statleaders.ufc.com. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  59. ^ "UFC on FOX 22 bonuses: Leslie Smith vs. Irene Aldana nabs 'Fight of the Night' honors". MMAjunkie. 2016-12-18. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  60. ^ a b c d "UFC Records - Women's Bantamweight". statleaders.ufc.com. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  61. ^ "MMA Junkie's 'Knockout of the Month' for December: An unbeaten streak ends in one punch". mmajunkie.com. January 1, 2020.
  62. ^ Sherdog.com. "Irene Aldana MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
  63. ^ "UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana | MMA Event". Tapology.

External links

UFC Women's Bantamweight Rankings
Categories