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Irene Aldana tipped to shock the world against Amanda Nunes at UFC 289: ‘We can shock her’

Irene Aldana’s jiu-jitsu coach, Diego Lopes, believes she can shock the world against Amanda Nunes, just as Alexa Grasso did with her fourth-round submission against Valentina Shevchenko in March. Aldana will head to the Great White North on June 10 for her first crack at UFC gold as she is set to challenge reigning two-division […]

Irene Aldana’s jiu-jitsu coach, Diego Lopes, believes she can shock the world against Amanda Nunes, just as Alexa Grasso did with her fourth-round submission against Valentina Shevchenko in March.

Aldana will head to the Great White North on June 10 for her first crack at UFC gold as she is set to challenge reigning two-division titleholder Amanda Nunes for the women’s bantamweight world championship. A winner in four of her last five matchups, Aldana stepped up to the plate after Nunes’ originally scheduled opponent, Julianna Pena, was forced to withdraw due to an injury. Despite the somewhat short-notice nature of their pairing, Aldana’s coach is confident that the Mexican-born striker can get the job done and follow in the footsteps of another one of his pupils, Alexa Grasso.

“Amanda is a tough fight for anyone in the division,” Lopes said on a recent episode of MMA Fighting’s Trocação Franca podcast. “We know she’s the best in the division, but I think our team is used to fighting that, like Alexa did with Valentina. Everybody saw Valentina as unbeatable, and we went there and did our job to win the fight.”

In addition to working with Irene Aldana, Diego Lopes was also in the corner of Alexa Grasso the night she tapped out Valentina Shevchenko to capture the 125-pound crown. The well-respected BJJ coach suggested that history could repeat itself at UFC 289 and bring Mexico its fourth UFC title this year.

“I think we can surprise Amanda like that,” Lopes said of Aldana’s chances. “To go in there and show something Amanda hasn’t faced yet, which is the level of boxing Irene has, to surprise her and bring the second [UFC] belt to the team and the fourth to Mexico.”

What’s Next For Alexa Grasso Following Her Historic Victory Against Valentina Shevchenko?

While Diego Lopes has his hands full preparing Irene Aldana for the biggest opportunity of her mixed martial arts career thus far, he expects to know what the future holds for newly crowned flyweight titleholder Alexa Grasso before long. The likeliest scenario is an immediate rematch with former champion Valentina Shevchenko, but it’s possible that rising contenders Manon Fiorot or Erin Blanchfield could sneak in and score their own title opportunity. No matter the case, Grasso and her team will be ready for whatever the promotion presents.

“It really depends on what the UFC has in mind for Alexa,” Lopes said. “We’ll be ready to fight any opponent the UFC gives us.”

Lopes will also have his eyes locked on two big impending title tilts featuring Mexico’s finest during International Fight Week in July. Brandon Moreno will defend his UFC flyweight world title against Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch more than five years in the making. The bout will co-headline UFC 290 on July 8 alongside a featherweight championship unification bout as undisputed king Alexander ‘The Great’ Volkanovski will look to unify his title against interim titleholder Yair Rodriguez.

“I’ll be watching them, especially Yair’s fight with Volkanovski, because I like to watch every fighter in my division and see at what level they are,” said Lopes, who impressed in his UFC debut earlier this month in a hard-fought decision loss to 17-0 talent Movsar Evloev. “It’s a hard fight, and it might be surprising. Yair could win, but Volkanovski could dominate the fight. I think it’s going to be very dynamic, and will go down to the small details.

“[Moreno vs. Pantoja] will be very interesting because Pantoja already beat Brandon twice, once on [The Ultimate Fighter] and then in the UFC, so let’s see what they bring to the table now. I had the opportunity to train with Brandon a few times and see his evolution. It’s going to be a very tough fight and we stay on the fence — having trained with Brandon and having a friendship with him, I hope he gets to defends the belt and keep it in Mexico because the country is working really hard for years to get to this point.”

Beneil Dariush targets title fight with Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 in October: ‘I think it’ll work out great’

Laying out plans for his first championship siege under the banner of the UFC later this year, surging lightweight contender, Beneil Dariush plans to “absolutely dominate” former champion, Charles Oliveira at UFC 289 in June – before turning around and fighting Islam Makhachev for gold at UFC 294 in October. Dariush, the current #4 ranked […]

Dariush, the current #4 ranked lightweight contender, is slated to co-headline UFC 289 in two weeks’ time – as the promotion returns to Vancouver, British Columbia – taking on Sao Paulo finisher, Oliveira in an expected title-eliminator at the weight class.

In the midst of an impressive seven-fight winning run, Iran-born contender, Beneil Dariush most recently competed at UFC 280 back in October of last year, landing a unanimous decision win over former two-weight KSW champion, Mateusz Gamrot in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The dominant decision win came off the back of other standout performances against the likes of former interim gold holder, Tony Ferguson, Diego Ferreira, Drakkar Klose, Drew Dober, and Thiago Moises.

Beneil Dariush eyes October turnaround against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294

Reacting to backing from Makhachev for a future rescheduled title fight, Dariush, who saw a fractured fibula rule him from a matchup with the Russian in February of last year, now plans to turnaround and fight the gold holder in the Middle East at UFC 294 in October.

“People will send me, you know, short clips of him (Islam Makhachev) saying that he thinks I’m gonna win the fight [against Charles Oliveira], and things like that,” Beneil Dariush told MMA Junkie. “It’s great. It’s building the fight right now, right?”

“So, Lord willing, I beat Charles (Oliveira) and we make the move back to Abu Dhabi and we have that fight [with Islam Makhachev] in Abu Dhabi. I think it’ll work out great if I could make the turnaround [in October], with no injuries or nothing like that.

Predicting a dominant victory over former champion, Oliveira en route to a title offing with Makhachev in the final quarter of this year, Dariush claims the Brazilian is likely “lacking desire” ahead of their UFC 289 battle.

“I think he (Charles Oliveira) didn’t start his camp when he should have,” Beneil Dariush said. “And then tried to catch up and probably overtrained, and that’s how he got injured.”

“I just think comfort is an enemy for athletes like us, and I think he’s (Charles Oliveira) gotten really comfortable. Obviously, he’s a wealthy guy now and he’s living good. I think those are things that can cause you some problems – cause you to lack desire, basically. I think that’s something that could take place in his life.”

UFC rival claims ex-Champion Charles Oliveira is ‘Lacking desire’ ahead of return: ‘He’s gotten really comfortable’

Ahead of his Octagon return at UFC 289 in two weeks’ time, former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira has been touted as falling victim to a good lifestyle he has created for himself through his success, according to incoming opponent, Beneil Dariush. Oliveira, the current #1 ranked lightweight contender, is set to return to the […]

Oliveira, the current #1 ranked lightweight contender, is set to return to the Octagon next weekend, taking co-main event honors at UFC 289 in British Columbia, Canada – taking on the surging, Dariush in a title-eliminator at 155lbs.

The Sao Paulo grappler has been sidelined since he headlined UFC 280 back in October of last year in Abu Dhabi, UAE – seeing his division-best 12-fight winning run halted as he suffered a second round arm-triangle submission loss against Islam Makhachev in the pair’s vacant title affair.

And recently withdrawing from a scheduled UFC 288 co-main event against Dariush earlier this month, the promotion’s most prolific finisher and submission artist, will now drae the Iranian in June at UFC 289.

Charles Oliveira has fallen victim to comfort according to UFC 289 foe, Beneil Dariush

Clinching undisputed lightweight gold following a lengthy, topsy-turvy tenure in the UFC, Oliveira has been touted as likely falling victim to a lack of desire by Dariush, who claimed the Brazilian more than likely overtrained for their slated UFC 288, resulting in his injury setback.

“I think he (Charles Oliveira) didn’t start his camp when he should have,” Beneil Dariush told MMA Junkie. “And then tried to catch up and probably overtrained, and that’s how he got injured.”

Himself clinching vacant lightweight gold back in May of 2021, Oliveira stopped Michael Chandler with a blistering second round KO, before then securing his one and only successful title defense against Dustin Poirier in December of that year in a submission win.

Dropping his undisputed championship to the scales at UFC 274 last year, Oliveira was stripped of his title, before submitting championship hopeful, Justin Gaethje with a first round rear-naked choke, nevertheless.

Amanda Nunes reveals she almost retired after UFC championship loss in 2021: ‘I think I’m done’

Undisputed two-weight champion, Amanda Nunes has admitted that she contemplated retiring from mixed martial arts competition following her stunning upset submission loss to Julianna Peña back in December 2021, initially telling her former coach, Din Thomas that she was “done” with the sport whilst still in the Octagon. Nunes, the current undisputed bantamweight and featherweight […]

Nunes, the current undisputed bantamweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the UFC, most recently recaptured bantamweight spoils against Peña in July of last year at UFC 277, turning in a dominant unanimous decision victory in the pair’s championship rematch.

However, prior to that, Nunes had co-headlined UFC 269 the December prior in a bantamweight title fight against Peña, turning in a dominant opening round performance, before dropping her title in arguably the biggest upset loss in the history of the organization.

Initially slated to headline UFC 289 next month against Peña in the pair’s trilogy rubber match, fractured ribs have ruled the former champion from contention, with Nunes instead drawing Irene Aldana in a title fight in British Columbia in the promotion’s return to Canadian soil.

Amanda Nunes reflects on debilitating loss to Julianna Peña

However, reflecting on her shocking submission defeat at the hands of The Ultimate Fighter victor, Peña, Nunes admitted that she had seriously contemplated retiring from the sport.

“You know, I was very confused,” Amanda Nunes told ESPN during a recent interview. “Losing my belt was crazy, but at the same time, I always said something was wrong. I saw Din [Thomas] right in the arena, and I give him a hug. I looked at him and said, ‘I think I’m done.’ We looked at each other and he [said], ‘Are you sure?’”

“I drove back home, was putting my thoughts together… I was sad for a couple moments in the camp, and when I put everything together, and me and Nina (Nunes) talked,” Amanda Nunes explained. “I was like, ‘I can not leave my belt with Julianna (Peña). It can be someone else but her.’ She did’t deserve that belt. She didn’t do anything to really deserve [and] hold that belt.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Last competing at the featherweight limit back in March 2021, Nunes turned in a dominant opening round submission win over Megan Anderson, submitting the Gold Coast native with a first round triangle armbar stoppage at the UFC Apex facility.

Beneil Dariush eyes future fight with ex-UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov: ‘He’s the best lightweight in the world’

Ahead of his Octagon return at UFC 289 next month, Beneil Dariush has laid out a rather unlikely roadmap to a potential future fight with former undisputed lightweight champion, the retired, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Dariush, the current #4 ranked lightweight contender, is slated to co-headline UFC 289 next month in Vancouver, British Columbia in the promotion’s […]

Dariush, the current #4 ranked lightweight contender, is slated to co-headline UFC 289 next month in Vancouver, British Columbia in the promotion’s return to Canada – taking on former division champion and current #1 ranked contender, Charles Oliveira.

In the midst of a stunning eight-fight winning run, Kings MMA staple, Dariush has been sidelined since he landed a one-sided unanimous decision win over former two-weight KSW gold holder, Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 280 back in October of last year.

As for the above-mentioned, Khabib, the Dagestan retired from mixed martial arts competition back in October of 2020, successfully unifying the lightweight titles in a submission win over then-interim gold holder, Justin Gaethje, improving to 29-0 as a professional to boot.

Beneil Dariush eyes unlikely fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov

Linked with a slew of potential return fights since his admittedly surprising retirement from combat sports, Khabib’s latest call out has come from Iranian-born grappler, Dariush.

“Ideally, it would be Khabib (Nurmagomedov), right?” Beneil Dariush told The AllStar during a recent interview. “He’s the best lightweight in the world. Ideally, after beating Charles (Oliveira) and (Islam) Makhachev, I would have an opportunity to fight him, but obviously, I don’t think that’s gonna happen.”

“He’s the lightweight G.O.A.T.,” Beneil Dariush explained. “But guys like GSP (Georges St-Pierre) were the reason why I got into MMA. I would have loved to have fought him.”

During his impressive and eye-catching division rise, Dariush has racked up successive victories over the likes of Thiago Moises, Drew Dober, Carlos Diego Ferreira, the above-mentioned, Gamrot, as well as former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson.

Ex-Champion Charles Oliveira closing as betting underdog ahead of Beneil Dariush fight at UFC 289

Seeing his divisional-best 11 fight winning streak halted back in October by current undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, former division champion, Charles Oliveira continues his underdog run ahead of his return at UFC 289 in June – hotly closing as a live dog in his co-main event with Beneil Dariush. Oliveira, the current #1 ranked […]

Oliveira, the current #1 ranked lightweight contender, has yet to feature since headlining UFC 280 back in October of last year on ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi, UAE – suffering a second round arm-triangle submission loss to Makhachev in the pair’s vacant title offing.

The Sao Paulo native had enjoyed a stunning winning streak over lightweight elite prior to his stoppage loss against Makhachev, Oliveira had secured a vacant title win over Michael Chandler at UFC 262 back in May 2021.

Landing a single successful title defense against Dustin Poirier in December of that year with a third round rear-naked choke win, Oliveira would lose his title to the scales – missing championship weight by just half a pound for his UFC 274 title defense against Justin Gaethje.

Nevertheless, continuing his roughshod run and winning spree, the Brazilian submitted former interim gold holder, Gaethje on enemy territory, courtesy of an eventual opening round rear-naked choke victory.

And pitted with the streaking Dariush in Vancouver, British Columbia this summer in the promotion’s pay-per-view return to Canada in June – Oliveira both opened and is now firmly closing as a +110 betting underdog to defeat Iran-born wrestler, Dariush – who is sitting currently as a -120 favorite on most markets. People who play online slots in Canada can also place bets and wagers on professional sports to boot in the region, including the upcoming UFC 289 flagship card.

Himself in the midst of a hugely-impressive streak of eight consecutive victories, bookended by a unanimous decision win over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 280 last year in the Middle East, Kings MMA staple, Dariush has earned the #4 rank amongst his lightweight peers as a result.

A perennial contender at the 155lbs limit, Dariush has also landed victories over the likes of Drew Dober, Carlos Diego Ferreira, and former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson during his impressive winning rise.

Despite winning the title in rallying fashion against Missouri native, Chandler back in 2021, Oliveira opened and both closed as a betting underdog against Poirier for their end-of-year title fight, ultimately submitting the former interim gold holder with a standing rear-naked choke at the T-Mobile Arena.

And in his last outing, whilst in the midst of an 11 fight winning rise, Oliveira closed as a betting underdog to defeat American Kickboxing Academy staple, Makhachev – ultimately submitting in the second frame.

33-9 as a professional, Octagon staple, Oliveira minted himself as the most prolific submission artist and finisher in the history of the UFC during his title reign – turning in a whopping 21 separate submission triumphs during his professional career.

With his striking quickly evolving under the tutelage of Diego Lima, Oliveira has also racked up 9 knockout wins during his gold laden professional tenure.