Irene Aldana: Purchase over Holly Holm makes it ‘very sure’ I’m subsequent for champ Amanda Nunes
By Danny Segura |
June 23, 2020 3: 00 pm
Irene Aldana is aware of precisely what might maybe perchance perchance additionally come out of her subsequent UFC bout.
The Mexican bantamweight contender takes a gigantic step in her combating profession this summer. Aldana (12-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) is scheduled to fight used UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm within the first tournament of UFC’s Fight Evening tournament on Aug. 1. It marks every the first time she headlines a UFC card and the first time she fights an ex-UFC champion.
Combating the No. 2 ranked fighter at 135 kilos, Aldana is assured a victory will leave absolute self perception she’s subsequent in line for champion Amanda Nunes.
“I don’t know what form of plans they (UFC) hold for me, but I reflect, me for my fragment, right here’s a fight the build it is miles terribly sure that I might maybe perchance perchance be the next contender to the title, beating a used champion and defeating someone of the level of Ketlen Vieira, who I beat in December,” Aldana told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “So I’ve long undergone gigantic names. In 2019, I went thru crucial fights and the very fact that I’m going thru Holly Holm, I reflect it’s very sure that I might maybe perchance perchance be annoying for the title.”
Nunes, UFC bantamweight and featherweight champion, flirted with retirement after her most most up-to-the-minute title protection at UFC 250. Nunes hasn’t made something respectable but did instruct ardour in walking away, having achieved heaps and saying there’s an absence of challenges for the time being.
Aldana respects no topic might maybe perchance perchance be Nunes’ decision, but she reflect she can be able to sway Nunes far off from inserting up the gloves with a formidable exhibiting in opposition to Holm.
“Irrespective of decision Amanda takes it is miles going to peaceable be respected,” Aldana told MMA Junkie. “She’s completed loads for the game, and if she’s happy with that and desires to retire, that wants to be respected. The true fact that she’s saying that there are no challenges within the division – I reflect that’s a putrid opinion.
“The division is evolving. The division is getting stronger, there’s solid contenders and I reflect we’re going to survey very technical fights, very sharp fights on this division. I reflect us as contenders, we’re increasing loads and in any case we can pose a be troubled to Amanda.”
After an 0-2 open within the UFC, Aldana has bounced attend and attach collectively a speed of 5-1 in her last six UFC bouts. The lone defeat got right here to used title challenger Raquel Pennington in a split decision.
Aldana’s most up-to-the-minute success and converse has been illustrious within the UFC. Coming off a first-spherical knockout of high contender Vieira – which won her a $50,000 Efficiency of the Evening bonus at UFC 245 – Aldana believes abilities has been a key facet in her most up-to-the-minute speed.
“I started this sport at 25 years of age and I didn’t in actuality hold any abilities in martial arts forward of that,” Aldana mentioned. “I didn’t even know that MMA existed so I principally started late. It is seemingly you’ll perchance perchance be ready to squawk I did my novice profession in Invicta FC.
“I was missing a range of abilities and I reflect I was acceptable selecting it up as I fought within the UFC and my opponents obtained more difficult. I was missing that abilities, that maturity within the future of the octagon, that maturity also within the health club as smartly, being ready to capture in more info. So I reflect I’ve been doing that and I’m at some extent that I’m mighty extra utilized within the game. Love I’ve told you, there’s consistently loads to be taught and loads to conform, but I do know if I fall I can take myself up once more. But acceptable now I hold a acceptable mentality, I in actuality feel solid, I in actuality feel optimum physically, mentally and technically. I reflect I’m at my most attention-grabbing.”