UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on June 10, 2023, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[2]

UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana
The poster for UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana
Information
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateJune 10, 2023 (2023-06-10)
VenueRogers Arena
CityVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Attendance17,628[1]
Total gate$3,834,893.25[1]
Event chronology
UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana UFC on ESPN: Vettori vs. Cannonier

Background edit

The event marked the promotion's 32nd overall visit to Canada and sixth to Vancouver, returning to the country for the first time since UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje in September 2019.[2]

A UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship trilogy bout between current two-time champion (also current UFC Women's Featherweight Champion) Amanda Nunes and former champion (also The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate bantamweight winner) Julianna Peña was expected to headline the event.[3] However on May 2, Peña pulled out due to broken ribs and was replaced by Irene Aldana, who was scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill in a rematch against former title challenger Raquel Pennington.[4] The latter served as a backup for the title bout.[5]

A lightweight bout between former UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush took place as the co-main event.[6] They were originally booked at UFC 288, but Oliveira withdrew due to injury.[7]

A middleweight bout between Chris Curtis and Nassourdine Imavov took place at the event. The two fighters were scheduled to face each other pre-UFC at ARES FC 2 in October 2020, but the event was canceled due to COVID-19 complications.[8]

A welterweight bout between former UFC Welterweight Championship challenger Stephen Thompson and Michel Pereira was expected for this event.[9] However, contracts were never signed and the bout is expected to take place at UFC 291 instead.[10][11]

Matt Schnell and David Dvořák were scheduled to meet in a flyweight bout on the preliminary card.[12] However, Schnell pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Stephen Erceg.[13]

A featherweight bout between Hakeem Dawodu and Lucas Almeida was expected to take place at the event.[14] However, the bout was scrapped for unknown reasons and Almeida was instead scheduled to face Pat Sabatini at UFC on ESPN: Vettori vs. Cannonier.[15]

Chris Daukaus was expected to make his light heavyweight debut against Khalil Rountree Jr. at the event.[16] However, Daukaus withdrew in early June due to injury.[17] The bout was rescheduled for UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. dos Anjos.[18]

Results edit

Main card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Women's Bantamweight Amanda Nunes (c) def. Irene Aldana Decision (unanimous) (50–44, 50–44, 50–43) 5 5:00 [a]
Lightweight Charles Oliveira def. Beneil Dariush TKO (punches) 1 4:10
Welterweight Mike Malott def. Adam Fugitt Submission (guillotine choke) 2 1:06
Featherweight Dan Ige def. Nate Landwehr Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Middleweight Marc-André Barriault def. Eryk Anders Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Middleweight Nassourdine Imavov vs. Chris Curtis No Contest (accidental clash of heads) 2 3:04 [b]
Women's Flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Miranda Maverick Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Bantamweight Aiemann Zahabi def. Aori Qileng KO (punches) 1 1:04
Featherweight Kyle Nelson def. Blake Bilder Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
Early preliminary card (ESPN+ / UFC Fight Pass)
Flyweight Steve Erceg def. David Dvořák Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Women's Strawweight Diana Belbiţă def. Maria Oliveira Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
  1. ^ For the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship.
  2. ^ Accidental clash of heads rendered Curtis unable to continue.

[19]

Bonus awards edit

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[20]

  • Fight of the Night: Marc-André Barriault vs. Eryk Anders
  • Performance of the Night: Charles Oliveira, Mike Malott, and Stephen Erceg

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Mike Bohn (2023-06-11). "UFC 289 post-event facts: Charles Oliveira sets all-time bar for finishes, bonuses". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  2. ^ a b Jed Meshew (2023-04-07). "UFC announces Canadian return for UFC 289 in Vancouver". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  3. ^ Mike Bohn (2023-04-07). "Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Peña title-fight trilogy bout headlines UFC 289 in Vancouver". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  4. ^ Nolan King (2023-05-02). "Irene Aldana replaces Julianna Peña at UFC 289, challenges Amanda Nunes for title". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  5. ^ Farah Hannoun (2023-05-05). "Dana White: Raquel Pennington will be backup for Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana title fight at UFC 289". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  6. ^ Mike Bohn (2023-04-20). "Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush rescheduled for UFC 289 in Vancouver". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  7. ^ Mike Bohn (2023-04-14). "Report: Charles Oliveira injured, out of UFC 288; Beneil Dariush fight postponed". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  8. ^ Nolan King and Farah Hannoun (2023-04-19). "UFC finalizing Chris Curtis vs. Nassourdine Imavov at UFC 289". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  9. ^ Jay Anderson (2023-04-04). "Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira set for UFC 289". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  10. ^ Cole Shelton (2023-05-02). "Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira removed from UFC 289". bjpenn.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  11. ^ Staff (2023-05-16). "UFC announces card with the return of Borrachinha and Poatan's debut at light heavyweight". ge.globo.com. Retrieved 2023-05-16. (in Brazilian Portuguese)
  12. ^ Liam Lindsay (2023-03-31). "Matt Schnell takes on David Dvořák at UFC 289". verdictmma.com. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  13. ^ Vipin Raghuwanshi (2023-05-31). "Stephen Erceg debut now set for UFC 289 vs David Dvorak after Schnell pulls out". itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  14. ^ Jay Anderson (2023-04-07). "Hakeem Dawodu vs. Lucas Almeida Featherweight Fight Booked for UFC 289". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  15. ^ Shivam Khatwani (2023-05-23). "UFC 289 card takes another hit as it loses exciting featherweight bout". sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  16. ^ Farah Hannoun (2023-04-22). "Chris Daukaus drops down to light heavyweight, meets Khalil Rountree at UFC 289". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  17. ^ Nolan King (2023-06-02). "Chris Daukaus out of UFC 289 due to injury". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  18. ^ Jay Anderson (2023-06-07). "Chris Daukaus vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. shifts to August 12 UFC event". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  19. ^ "UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana". Ultimate Fighting Championship. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  20. ^ Jed Meshew (2023-06-10). "UFC 289 post-fight bonuses: Charles Oliveira earns $50k for record-breaking finish of Beneil Dariush". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-06-10.