Hall of Famer and UFC analyst Rashad Evans is expecting a third title change in the women’s bantamweight division in the last three bouts at UFC 289.
As Irene Aldana prepares to challenge Amanda Nunes for 135-pound gold in the June 10 pay-per-view main event at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena, Evans predicts another title change, the challenger underdog eliminating the champion.
“I have to go with Aldana,” Evans said on a recent UFC post-fight show on ESPN+. “Mexico is on the rise, but Aldana, she’s such a massive force. She looks so big in there and that left hook, oh my. Absolutely, she’s catching it (on the feet).”
Nunes (22-5 MMA, 15-2 UFC) will look to reign the first defense of her second women’s bantamweight title against Aldana (14-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) at UFC 289. After losing the belt against Julianna Peña in a shock upset at UFC 269 in December 2021, Nunes reclaimed the gold unilaterally at UFC 277 in July.
She will look to reassert her division dominance against Aldana, who has won four of the last five fights and is riding the momentum of UFC Mexican title success, with teammate Alexa Grasso and compatriots Brandon Moreno and Yair Rodriguez holding. pieces of belts.
“The energy there is just on another level, so you kind of start leveling up with everyone around you,” Evans said. “And I feel like that’s where Aldana is.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s Event Center for UFC 289.
The story originally appeared on MMA Junkie