UFC stars and experts predict Nunes vs. Aldana

On Saturday June 30, we will see UFC double champion, and all-time great, Amanda Nunes defend her bantamweight strap against Irene Aldana at UFC 289.

Click “Next” to check out how MMA pros and experts predict the title bout!

Alexander Volkanovski

Pick: Nunes

Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski believes the champion will win at UFC 289.

”I can’t bet against her”, Volkanovski says.

Yan Xiaonan

Pick: Nunes

Top ranked strawweight Yan Xiaonan thinks the champion will get her hand raised at UFC 289.

”Amanda,” Xiaonan says.

Rashad Evans

Pick: Aldana

Former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans thinks we will have a new champion on Saturday.

”I gotta go with Aldana, man. I feel like, I know, Mexico’s on the surge, but I mean, Aldana, she’s such a massive force. She seems so big in there, and that left hook, oh my god,” Evans says.

Mackinzie Dern

Pick: Nunes

Top ranked strawweight Mackinzie Dern doesn’t hesitate when she predicts the winner.

”Amanda, the GOAT” Dern says.

Dan Hardy

Pick: Nunes

MMA expert Dan Hardy has a hard time making up his mind.

”I’m going to go with Nunes just purely based on her experience and that last performance against Pena,” Hardy says.

Veronica Hardy

Pick: Nunes

UFC fighter and MMA commentator Veronica Hardy thinks that Aldana will have all the motivation in the world, but eventually will be outfought by Nunes.

”I just feel like Nunes is going to take her down and then just flatten her out,” Hardy says.

Nate Landwehr

Pick: Nunes

Featherweight fan favorite Nate Landwehr is positive the champion will win.

”Nunes,” Landwehr says.

Loopy Godinez

Pick: Aldana

Mackinzie DernStrawweight Loopy Godinez believes that the challenger will force Nunes to be reckless.

”I feel like Irene is going to bring old Amanda back again and Irene is going to see an opening and potentially finish her,” Godinez predicts.

Chris Daukaus

Pick: Aldana

Heavyweight Chris Daukaus always supports the underdog.

” Aldana’s boxing is very good,” Daukaus says, ”I like an underdog.”

Diego Ferreira

Pick: Nunes

Diego Ferreira predicts a tough fight.

”It’s hard, but I’m still going with Amanda,” Ferreira says. ”She’s been there so many times.”

Marc-Andre Barriault

Pick: Nunes

Marc-Andre Barriault, who opens the main card of UFC 289, thinks the champion

”I’m going to go for the GOAT Amanda Nunes,” Barriault says. ”She’s a beast. I think now she wants it more than ever.”

Chase Hooper

Pick: Nunes

Chase Hooper thinks the champion will get it done in the main event of UFC 289.

”It’s hard not to give it to Amanda,” Hooper says.

Jasmine Jasudavicius

Pick: Nunes

Flyweight prospect Jasmine Jasudavicius, who fights Miranda Maverick on the same card, believes the champion will defend her belt.

”I think Nunes is getting it, you know. She’s a talented girl,” Jasudavicius says.

Miranda Maverick

Pick: Nunes

Miranda Maverick thinks Aldana has a good chance but still thinks Nunes will pull it off.

”I think Irene has a good chance honestly, but I’m still going to side with Nunes on this one,” Maverick says.

Michelle Waterson-Gomez

Pick: 50/50

Strawweight veteran Michelle Waterson-Gomez can see the fight going both ways. But if the challenger can get her jab going, she could pull off a win like Julianna Pena did.

”If Aldana’s able to see that and capitalize on that, beat her to the punch, it might be that same story. It’ll be really interesting to see what happens.”

Modestas Bukauskas

Pick: Nunes

Modestas Bukauskas thinks the champion will show what she’s made of at UFC 289.

”I’m going to go with Nunes for that one,” Bukauskas says.

This is Amanda Nunes

• Age: 35
• Record: 22-5
• UFC record: 15-2
• Weight: 135 lbs (61 kg)
• Height: 173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
• Reach: 175 cm
• Post-fight bonuses: 5

This is Irene Aldana

• Age: 35
• Record: 14-6
• UFC record: 7-4
• Weight: 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
• Height: 135 lbs
• Reach: 69 in (175 cm)
• Post-fight bonuses: 4

UFC 289 Fight Card

Main card

• Women’s bantamweight title bout: Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana
• Lightweight bout: Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush
• Welterweight bout: Mike Malott vs. Adam Fugitt
• Featherweight bout: Dan Ige vs. Nate Landwehr
• Middleweight bout: Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Eryk Anders

Preliminary card

• Middleweight bout: Nassourdine Imavov vs. Chris Curtis
• Light heavyweight bout: Khalil Rountree Jr vs. Chris Daukaus
• Women’s flyweight bout: Miranda Maverick vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
• Bantamweight bout: Aiemann Zahabi vs. Aori Qileng
• Featherweight bout: Kyle Nelson vs. Blake Bilder

Early prelims

• Flyweight bout: David Dvorak vs. Stephen Erceg
• Women’s straweight bout: Diana Belbita vs. Maria Oliveira

Read more: 25 UFC stars and experts predict Oliveira vs. Dariush

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