Mixed martial arts event in 2023
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]
Background
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
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
[ 19]
Bonus awards
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 Steve Erceg
See also
References
Upcoming events are in italics
Flagship events Fight Nights (on Spike TV) UFC on Versus/UFC Live UFC on Fox UFC on FX UFC on Fuel TV Fight Nights (on FS1, FS2, FXX, or UFC Fight Pass) UFC on ESPN (or ESPN2) Fight Nights (on ESPN+) UFC on ABC The Ultimate Fighter Finales