Holly Holm put forth a vintage performance in the main event of UFC Fight Island 4, completely dominating Irene Aldana over five rounds.
The main event of UFC Fight Island 4 is a premier bantamweight matchup between Holly Holm and Irene Aldana. Holm and Aldana were originally set to fight two months ago, but Aldana had COVID-19 and the fight was pushed back. Holm had alternated wins and losses in her previous five fights with both losses coming in title fights against Amanda Nunes and Cris Cyborg.
Aldana was a former Invicta FC standout, going 4-1 with all of her wins coming by stoppage. She lost her first two fights in the UFC, then bounced back with five wins in six fights, the latest being a knockout against Ketlen Vieira.
Holm took the center of the Octagon quickly to started the fight and the lengthy bantamweights had a fair amount of distance between them. Holm landed the first punch, a counter left off an Aldana leg kick. Kicks were traded, then Holm came in with her patented blitzing combination. Holm went to the rush a few more times, keeping Aldana off-balance. On the fifth rush, Aldana countered, but Holm followed with a left. Holm went to the clinch late in the round, tried a takedown, but it was defended beautifully by Aldana. Holm went right back to it and got a takedown right before the end of the round.
Aldana came out with a leg kick and answered a blitz with a counter right hand in the second round. Holm’s combinations were on the money early on this fight and she also landed a slinging left hand. Holm went for a takedown but ate a knee to the body from Aldana that separated them. Holm stayed persistent and got Aldana down on her second attempt. Holm quashed any reversal attempts from Aldana, but Aldana got up off of the butterfly guard. Holm continued to control the fight on the feet, not allowing Aldana to get a rhythm going.
Holm picked up right where she left off in the third round and even mixed in her head kick. Aldana caught her with a left hand, but Holm answered with a slick takedown into side control. Holm considered a kimura, but let it go to head to mount instead. Holm battered Aldana with strikes, but was eventually bucked off and back to the feet. Holm was just nowhere to be found as Aldana struggled to find her range at all.
The fourth round was more of the same. Holm was putting on a clinic, landing a slew of body kicks and not letting Aldana get remotely close. This was as dominant a performance as we had seen from Holm in a long time.
Aldana was cracked with a left hand early in the fifth round then ate a body kick. Aldana did land a right hand, but it was far too little, far too late. Holm’s dominance continued, landing cracking left hands. Aldana landed some rights but ate a side kick to the body as punishment. With just over a minute left, Holm got the fight to the ground with a strong double leg. As Aldana was standing up, she was cracked with a head kick. Holm let it all out at the end of the fight, yelling with every strike as she tried for the finish, but the final bell came first.
Holly Holm def. Irene Aldana by Unanimous Decision (50-45 x2, 50-44)
