UFC 289: Julianna Pena Out, Irene Aldana In vs Amanda Nunes
The main event of UFC 289 PPV is changed now with Amanda Nunes vs Julianna Pena trilogy bout now canceled.
UFC President Dana White announced on social media on Tuesday that Julianna Pena has broken her ribs and she would be replaced by Irene Aldana. White also pointed out that Pena is in line to become the fifth Mexican UFC Champion this year.
Aldana was supposed to face Raquel Pennington in a rematch to headline at UFC Vegas 73 on May 20, 2023, in a title eliminator bout. There is no news if Pennington will get a new opponent for that event.
Aldana has won 4 of his last 5 bouts fights since being beaten by Pennington in July 2019 with wins over Ketlen Vieira, Yana Kunitskaya and Macy Chiasson. Nunes was looking forward to face Aldana as her next defense but UFC instead booked her in the trilogy bout against Pena.
Nunes’s 1981 days women’s bantamweight title reign was ended by Pena in December 2021 at UFC 269 via second-round submission. After both women were mentors of the Ultimate Fighter Season 30, they fought in a rematch at UFC 277 with Nunes winning the title back from Pena via unanimous decision.
UFC 289 is slated to take place on June 10, 2023, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada. Apart from the headliner, the event has Charles Oliveira vs Beniel Dariush bout in the co-main event.
