Among a number of fight announcements for the UFC’s return to New York is a key women’s bantamweight showdown.
During Saturday’s UFC Vegas 35 broadcast, promotion officials revealed that former women’s featherweight champ and bantamweight title challenger Germaine de Randamie (10-4) will return to the octagon against Irene Aldana (13-6) at UFC 268. The PPV card is expected to take place on November 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
de Randamie will enter the fight off a Performance of the Night bonus-winning showing against Julianna Pena in October of last year. After submitting Pena, who is currently next in line for a shot at Amanda Nunes’ 135lb title, “The Iron Lady” proceeded to sit out most of 2021. It will have been over 12 months on the sidelines by the time the Dutch fighter returns to the octagon against Aldana.
Aldana is also coming off an impressive finish in her last fight. She stopped Yana Kunitskaya via TKO at UFC 264 in July. Considered a title hopeful throughout the past couple of years, the Mexican fighter has stumbled with steps up in competition, losing key fights against Raquel Pennington and Holly Holm.
A win over an ex-champ in Germaine de Randamie, however, could finally see her arrive as a bonafide contender.
UFC 268 is expected to be headlined by a welterweight title fight, as Kamaru Usman defends his belt against Colby Covington for the second time. Another championship rematch serves as the card’s co-main event, as Rose Namajunas will run it back with Weili Zhang.
