Amanda Nunes, Valentina Shevchenko Return To Octagon At UFC 285
The card is scheduled for March.
Two of the UFC’s top women’s champions are making their return at UFC 285.
Long-time women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will face Alexa Grasso and UFC’s bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes will go against Irene Aldana – both on the undercard of Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title.
Shevchenko hasn’t fought since her controversial split-decision win against Taila Santos at UFC 275. The champion previously told media that she was having a hard time finding an opponent.
If she’s victorious, it would make her eighth successful defense of her flyweight title.
Grasso is on a four-fight winning streak, which includes victories over Viviane Araujo, Joanne Wood, Maycee Barber and Ji Yeon Kim.
Aaron Bronsteter reported that Nunes would also be joining the card against No. 5 ranked Aldana.
Per @raphamarinho of Combate, the UFC are looking to book Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana on the UFC 285 card for the women’s bantamweight championship. https://t.co/fw36AjBnXA
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) January 18, 2023
Nunes recently bounced back from a historic upset performance by Julianna Pena, who took her long-held belt by submitting her in the second round. Nunes got revenge in her rematch in July by taking the crown back via unanimous decision.
Pena immediately asked for a rematch, but it seems like that won’t be happening just yet.
Aldana is 2-1 in her last three fights.