There is more UFC action for MMA fans to look forward to this weekend, as Holly Holm returns to the octagon to take on Irene Aldana in the bantamweight division. There is also an interesting undercard of fights for fans to look forward to, but there is no doubting that the fight that everyone will be tuning in to see will be this one. It could have huge title implications in the bantamweight division. Both fighters have impressive pedigrees, but which fighter will be successful on Fight Island this weekend?
Holm vs Aldana Preview
MMA fans have been delighted with the Fight Islands that we have seen thus far, and this bout offers more of the same. There will be pressure on both fighters to build on what they have achieved over recent performances in the UFC. Holm will have pressure on her as she looks to win two fights on the bounce for the first time since shocking the world against Ronda Rousey back in 2015.
That victory to win the Bantamweight title remains the biggest of her career, and possibly the biggest in the history of women’s MMA. Since that huge victory, Holm has only won twice in seven fights in UFC. She lost the title that she won against Rousey just four months after winning it against Miesha Tate. That was followed with two more defeats, with the latter of those coming against Germaine de Randamie in her featherweight debut.
Holm competed for that title in her second fight in that division, but she lost against Cris Cyborg. She returned to the bantamweight division in 2019, but was beaten by Amanda Nunes. However, her most recent fight ended in victory by unanimous decision against Raquel Pennington.
Meanwhile, Aldana’s star has been rising over the past year, and she will be looking to build on an impressive end to 2019 in this, which is her first fight this calendar year. Her most recent fight was against Ketlen Vieira, which saw Aldana produce one of the most brutal knockouts that we have ever seen in the UFC. Aldana will go into this fight against Holm looking to win a third consecutive fight in the UFC for the very first time. Her first victory in this sequence came against Vanessa Melo just over one year ago. Her only defeat in the last two years came against Pennington, but it was a contentious split decision.
Holm vs Aldana Prediction
Holm comes into the fight with big pressure, and will be the 0.77 favourite with BetXChange. However, her recent record wouldn’t suggest that she will be able to add a second win on the bounce. Aldana has all the tools to go to the very top in the UFC, and is one of the very few in the bantamweight division that could challenge Nunes for the title. This will be her night as she puts herself at the front of the queue for a title opportunity.
