Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana: Betting odds, stats, fight preview

Amanda Nunes poses with her UFC Women's Featherweight and Bantamweight titles (Zuffa LLC)

The stage is set for a thrilling showdown as Amanda Nunes steps back into the Octagon against Irene Aldana at UFC 289.

Nunes, the reigning queen of the women’s bantamweight and featherweight divisions, is looking to add another victory to her impressive record, while Aldana is itching to prove that she’s got what it takes to topple the champion in this bantamweight title fight.

Betting Odds

Nunes vs. Aldana betting odds are now live on most sites, including popular bookmaker BetUS which has listed Nunes as a -450 favorite.

If you’re scratching your head wondering what that means, allow us to demystify it for you. In short, you’d need to bet $450 on Nunes to win $100.

On the flip side, Aldana is a +325 underdog, which means a $100 bet on her would net you $325 if she pulls off the upset.

Fight Preview

First up, Amanda “The Lioness” Nunes. With a record of 22-5-0, Nunes has proven time and again why she’s considered one of the greatest fighters in UFC history. Standing 5’8″ with a reach of 69″, she’ll have an edge when it comes to reach in this fight.

What’s more, Nunes lands a whopping 4.40 significant strikes per minute with 51% accuracy, and absorbs just 2.75 in return, according to UFC Stats. Her takedown average per 15-minute fight is 2.61, with a takedown accuracy of 56%, and she defends against takedowns 82% of the time. And let’s not forget her submission average of 0.8​1​.

Next in line, Irene Aldana. Although an underdog, her record of 14-6-0 doesn’t tell the whole story. She’s slightly taller than Nunes at 5’9″, but with a slightly smaller reach of 68″.

What stands out about Aldana is her striking – she lands 5.39 significant strikes per minute, albeit with a lower accuracy of 39%. Her strikes-per-minute rate is enough for her to be ranked #4 in the history of UFC women’s bantamweight fighters.

However, she absorbs more strikes per minute at 5.71, which may be a concern against a powerful striker like Nunes. But interestingly, she has a high striking defense rate of 61%.

Aldana attempts just 0.2 takedowns per 15-minute fight, as she clearly prefers to keep the fight standing. And she’s capable of doing so with an impressive 81% takedown defense rate through her UFC career so far. Aldana is also less likely to attempt submissions during a fight, with a submission average rate of 0.3 per 15-minute fight.

Fighter Quotes

Nunes recently showered praise on her upcoming opponent, noting Aldana’s powerful strikes and counter-fighting abilities.

“Aldana is powerful. She can knock somebody out, so I’ve got to watch for that,” Nunes admitted at the UFC 289 press conference. “She’s also a very good counter striker. When I set up my shots, I want to make sure I’m in the right range when she attacks”​​.

As for Aldana, she’s kept her cards close to her chest and hasn’t made public comments about the fight yet.

Betting on Nunes vs. Aldana

Now, if all this talk of fight stats and betting odds has got you itching to place a bet, look no further than BetUS.

UFC Predictions page as we get closer to UFC 289.

Between Nunes’ all-around prowess and Aldana’s striking skills, this is one matchup you won’t want to miss. The betting odds are in Nunes’ favor, but as we’ve seen time and again, anything can happen when that Octagon door shuts.

Ready to get in on the action? Head on over to BetUS, enjoy your sign-up bonus, and place your bets on the Nunes vs. Aldana fight.

Jack Miller is a seasoned MMA journalist and analyst. Now, as a writer for The Body Lock, he provides comprehensive fight coverage and in-depth analysis.