Amanda Nunes has a new contender for UFC 289.
UFC President Dana White announced Tuesday that Nunes’ originally scheduled challenger Juliana Peña has been forced out of an upcoming three-way bantamweight championship bout scheduled for June 10 in Vancouver, Canada, due to an injury. Stepping in to replace Bina’s best competitor Erin Aldana.
According to White, Peña broke her ribs and was unable to compete. This was the third meeting between Nunes and Peña, with Peña winning in a shocking upset by submitting at UFC 269 to become champion and Nunes avenging that loss and regaining her title at UFC 277 with a dominant five-round performance.
Prior to her loss to Peña, Nunes successfully defended her bantamweight title five times in a row. She is also the UFC Featherweight Champion.
Aldana was previously slated for a rematch against Raquel Pennington on May 20 that would have potentially decided a new #1 contender, but instead goes straight to a championship opportunity. The Mexican lead has won two straight fights and four of the past five, although she had not actually fought at 135 pounds in either of her previous two competitions.
Last September, Aldana won a 140-pound fight against Macy Chiasson with a stunning body knockout, and before that scored a first-round TKO of Yana Santos after losing more than three pounds.
It is not yet known if Pennington will receive a new opponent on May 20.
UFC 289 is set to take place at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada, with former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira battling Benel Dariuch in the co-main event.
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