Simply over a month in the past, UFC bantamweight contender Irene Aldana was getting ready for an Apex-held headliner in opposition to Raquel Pennington. Now, she’s simply days out from a date within the cage with one in all, if not the, biggest feminine fighters of all time.
The change got here because of Julianna Peña’s pressured withdrawal from the principle occasion of the UFC 289 pay-per-view, set for this Saturday, June 10, at Rogers Area in Vancouver, Canada.
After being drafted in to fill the void in opposition to Amanda Nunes, Aldana is pursuing what would little doubt go down as one of many largest upsets in current reminiscence. Per BetOnline.ag, the reigning two-division champion at the moment sits as a -345 favourite to retain her 135-pound belt.
However with regards to stunning the lots and upsetting the chances come struggle night time, Aldana is not with out helpful perception.
Aldana Takes Inspiration From Champ Teammate Grasso
This previous March, Alexa Grasso secured flyweight glory by submitting previously long-reigning queen Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 285. The Mexican trains alongside Aldana in Guadalajara.
Having witnessed her teammate be part of 125-pound kingpin Brandon Moreno and interim featherweight champ Yair Rodríguez as her nation’s third lively titleholder, “Robles” has been impressed so as to add to Mexico’s 2023 success contained in the Octagon.
“(Grasso’s title win was) very inspiring. It is an amazing motivation for me, seeing her accomplish that,” Aldana mentioned. “And never simply conducting it, however the best way she achieved that. She shined that night time. She received (in opposition to) one of many biggest of all time. Valentina Shevchenko is just not a straightforward struggle, everyone knows that. How she did that and the way she managed all this, it was superior.
“When she received to Guadalajara after her struggle with Valentina, she went to my dwelling and confirmed me her belt. The very first thing she mentioned was, ‘You are subsequent,'” Aldana recalled. “I used to be like, ‘No, that is your time! Congratulations!’ (She mentioned), ‘You are subsequent.’ It was nice to see her like that and we have now been trying again all this time. It has been an extended journey and it’s good that we have now shared this collectively, we have now lived this collectively virtually, on the identical time.”
Aldana will now look to channel her teammate’s current potential to beat a large hurdle and repeat the feat herself at the expense of the consensus GOAT, Nunes.
If she does so this weekend on Canadian soil, it stands to cause that she’ll be rapidly dwelling to Mexico to rejoice with the flyweight queen because the newly topped bantamweight champ.
A face off with a view 😍#UFC289 Combat Week in Vancouver beginning robust! pic.twitter.com/5OxVYxHSX2
— UFC (@ufc) June 7, 2023
- Learn Additionally: UFC Veteran Names What Irene Aldana Must ‘See & Capitalize On’ To Beat Amanda Nunes
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