UFC 289’s new main event: Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana set with Julianna Pena injured

Irene Aldana’s time is finally now.

UFC President, Dana White, broke the news today (Tues., May 2, 2023) that a major shift has taken place atop UFC 289 on June 10, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The original Bantamweight title main event trilogy between reigning roost-ruler, Amanda Nunes (22-5), and former champion, Julianna Pena (12-5), is off after “Venezuelan Vixen” suffered a broken rib.

Now, Aldana (14-6) — the No. 5-ranked contender out of Mexico — is set to fill in for her first UFC title shot.

The Nunes-Aldana pairing was one many within the mixed martial arts (MMA) community expected before the Pena trilogy was formally announced. Aldana has won her last two via impressive knockouts over the likes of former Featherweight title challenger, Yana Santos, and Featherweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 28, Macy Chiasson. Aldana had been set to rematch Raquel Pennington in the main event of UFC Vegas 73 on May 20, 2023, before the injury to Pena.

No replacement for Aldana in the Pennington match up has been announced yet or if the Bantamweight contender will remain in that main event slot.

Check out the current UFC 289 line up below:

135 lbs.: (C)Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana
155 lbs.: Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush
170 lbs.: Mike Malott vs. Adam Fugitt
145 lbs.: Dan Ige vs. Nate Landwehr
205 lbs.: Khalil Rountree Jr. vs. Chris Daukaus
145 lbs.: Kyle Nelson vs. Blake Bilder
185 lbs.: Nassourdine Imavov vs. Chris Curtis
185 lbs.: Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Eryk Anders
125 lbs.: Matt Schnell vs. David Dvorak
145 lbs.: Hakeem Dawodu vs. Lucas Almeida
125 lbs.: Miranda Maverick vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
135 lbs.: Aiemann Zahabi vs. Aoriqileng
115 lbs.: Diana Belbita vs. Maria Oliveira

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