The UFC has lined up a key bantamweight bout between Irene Aldana and Aspen Ladd on April 9 for what is being reported to be UFC 273 in Brooklyn, New York.
The UFC is targeting a high stakes bantamweight bout for UFC 273 on April 9 between top contender Irene Aldana and Aspen Ladd. Cageside Press confirmed the match-up Thursday following an initial report by ESPN Deportes. The bout is expected to take place at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Aldana (13-6) is looking to continue building momentum as she attempts to secure her first shot at UFC gold. “Robles” is notably 2-1 in her last three with first round stoppages of ranked contenders Ketlen Vieira and Yana Kunitskaya. Aldana was scheduled for another high stakes bout in November against Germaine De Randamie, but the fight was cancelled after de Randamie was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Ladd (9-2) will be returning to bantamweight following an unsuccessful fight at featherweight against Ketlen Vieira in October. Ladd had missed weight for a bout against Macy Chiasson earlier that month; she also struggled (but was ultimately successful) making weight in 2019 for her bout against Germaine De Randamie. Following her fight with Vieira, Ladd had come out to say she would be returning to bantamweight and called for a bout with Miesha Tate.
No main event for the event has been reported or announced for UFC 273. Should it go down as planned, this will be the UFC’s second event in New York since the coronavirus pandemic changed operations worldwide in 2020. This will be the third UFC event to be held at the Barclay’s Center overall, following UFC 208 and UFC on ESPN+ 1.
