UFC 289 main event: Amanda Nunes retires from MMA after dominant title defense over Irene Aldana
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to us tonight, June 10, 2023, for UFC 289, going down live from the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Headlining the event was a title bout between longtime UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes (23-5) and no. 5 ranked Irene Aldana (14-7).
Nunes had just recaptured the throne in her immediate rematch with Julianna Pena (UD) last year in July, while Aldana came into the bout having gone 4-1 over her last five with three knockouts, most recently having defeated the likes of Yana Kunitskaya (TKO) and Macy Chiasson (KO).
Continue reading to see how this bantamweight championship bout went down:
Official Result: Amanda Nunes def. Irene Aldana via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-43)
Nunes has a great round one, beginning her attack with an array of body and leg kicks. She out-strikes Aldana nearly 5-1 through the first five minutes, and secures a beautiful single leg takedown at one point, though she does eat a lone overhand right counter.
Round two is quite the same, with Aldana being a step behind the champion.
Aldana has a hard time getting much of anything going in this fight, Nunes never gives her an opportunity to. The striking totals are far in favor of the champion, as she’s merely target practice for Nunes through the first 20 minutes.
Nunes gets Aldana down early in the fifth and absolutely dominates her from top position until the final bell sounds.
Amanda Nunes we will miss you
“And Still forever! Double champion for life!"pic.twitter.com/T0I58Zmocu
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) June 11, 2023
Amanda Nunes proves she’s still atop women’s MMA tonight at UFC 289, just before announcing her retirement from the sport. What a career this woman has had! It’s a sad day knowing this is most likely the last time we’ll ever see her fight.
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