Amanda Nunes, the only current UFC champion, spoke about her change in competition at UFC 289 where she was originally going to face Juliana Peña in the main event, but an injury forced the promotion to bring in Irene Aldana instead.
While speaking with UFC commentator and ESPN MMA contributor Jon Anik, Nunes revealed that her opponent at UFC 289 was supposed to be Mexican featuring Aldana the whole time. Until former champion Peña stepped in and took the fight.
“(Aldana) was actually the original opponent. The UFC and I were talking about her, you know. They want the next Aldana and everything lined up to be Aldana,” Nunes said.
“I don’t know if Juliana was crying about it, whatever happened, she ended up (getting) another chance. But now we’re here.”
Peña was supposed to fight a three-way fight in Vancouver, but had to pull out due to an injury. That opened the door for the original bout with Aldana to headline UFC 289.
“So I was ready (too). My job is to defend the belt. Get ready, get in the cage, and take my belt home with me,” she said.
Nunes is excited to be training for someone new, and an opponent of a different type than her last two fights.
“At the end of the day, I like to fight a good opponent, a decent opponent like Aldana,” she said.
“That would be great. I can’t wait for this.”
Nunes was ready for new opponents after regaining the title from Peña in a rematch at UFC 277 this past July. Welcome to Aldana Match.
“I’ve never fought her before. So Juliana had two chances. The first night was obviously a bad night for me, and the second I proved it was a bad night. Now I feel like we have to move on,” she said.
Watch the full interview with Nunes and Anik below.