Nunes v Aldana betting tips & best odds – UFC 289 main event
| UFC 289: Amanda Nunes v Irene Aldana Latest Odds & Fight Info | |
|---|---|
| Main Event odds | Nunes -357.14 at BetOnline | Aldana +270 at BetOnline |
| When | Sunday, June 11 – main card from 12pm AEST |
| Where | Rogers Arena – Vancouver, Canada |
| Watch Live | Main Event (Kayo, Foxtel) |
The women’s bantamweight belt will be on the line at Rogers Arena in Vancouver this weekend when defending champ Amanda Nunes squares off with rising challenger Irene Aldana in the UFC 289 main event. Read on to see our in-depth fight preview and best bets for this intriguing bout.
UFC 289: Nunes v Aldana main event preview
Amanda Nunesvs 
Irene Aldana |
| -357.14 at BetOnline | UFC betting odds | +270 at BetOnline |
| 22-5-0 | MMA records | 15-12-0 |
| 35 | Age | 35 |
| 5’8″ | Height | 5’9″ |
| 134lbs | Weight | 138lbs |
| 69″ | Reach | 68″ |
| Brazil | Nationality | Mexico |
| Coral Springs, Florida | Fighting out of | Guadelajara, Jalisco |
Amanda Nunes (22-5-0) is one of the most dominant women’s MMA fighters of all time. She is 13-1 since 2015. She immediately avenged the defeat to Julianna Pena, who was initially booked for this fight before withdrawing due to injury. Nunes has beaten all comers at both bantamweight and featherweight, including huge names in Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, Cris Cyborg, and Miesha Tate, and has nothing left to prove. Whether this affects her motivation levels remains to be seen.
The Brazilian champion is now 35 years old and has spoken of retirement. Her fearsome punching power remains, but she did appear to run out of gas in the 2021 loss to Pena. If she successfully defends her title, there is a chance Nunes leaves the gloves in the ring and calls it a day. She has climbed every mountain, instilled terror in her opponents, and might be ready to ease into life as a coach to the next generation of female combat athletes.
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Irene Aldana (14-6-0) has assembled a 9-2 record since 2018 with wins over fellow contenders Ketlen Vieira, Yana Kunitskaya, and Macy Chiasson. Her two losses during this period were decision results that were awarded to Holly Holm and Raquel Pennington. The Mexican’s weakness can be a lack of activity, but that will not be an issue against the relentless attacking approach of Nunes.
Aldana is predominantly a standup fighter but has three submission wins to her credit. Given the struggles Nunes had against Pena on the ground, it might be in the challenger’s interests to pursue some takedowns and tire the champ. Aldana has suffered two career knockout defeats, back in 2013 and 2015, and her chin is bound to be tested by the heavy strikes that will be coming her way.
Nunes v Aldana predictions & best bets
The outcome of this fight will be largely dictated by the mindset of the champion. If Nunes is fully motivated and has enjoyed a smooth preparation, she is clearly the better combatant. But if age has finally caught up with her and she has one eye on her life in retirement, there is some chance Aldana can spring the upset. The challenger will need to stand up to the early Nunes onslaught, prove she can take the heavy shots, and then fire back with her own strikes.
Aldana is not the most athletic of fighters, so her footwork might let her down. If she were a nimbler combatant, she might be able to bounce in and out of range and launch effective counterstrikes late in the rounds when Nunes begins to slow. For that reason, we are compelled to tip the GOAT.
