A former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger has decided to call it a career.
Mexico’s Irene Aldana, who once challenged Amanda Nunes for the promotion’s 135lb title, informed the UFC of her retirement earlier this year. Out of action since 2024, Aldana had been conspicuously absent from the thin women’s bantamweight division.
ESPN Deportes was first to announce her retirement, with the fighter herself then confirming the news and releasing a letter she had sent to Dana White in April detailing her decision.
“Dear Dana,” the letter, posted to social media, begins, “After a year and a half of deep reflection, I have finally found the courage to make the hardest decision of my life: to prioritize my health, even though it means stepping away from fighting.”
38-year old Aldana (15-8) has remained active on social media, but has not fought since a September 2024 loss to Norma Dumont. In 2023, she replaced Julianna Pena in the main event of UFC 289 in Vancouver, stepping into a title fight against Amanda “The Lioness” Nunes. The bout set a women’s bantamweight record for significant strikes, and saw Nunes retire afterwards.
As for Aldana, she would bounce back in her next fight, earning Fight of the Night honors for a decision victory over Karol Rosa. Next up would be the Dumont fight, which now stands as her last.
After just four fights in her professional career early on, Irene Aldana landed in Invicta FC, where she would challenge Tonya Evinger for that promotion’s bantamweight crown in 2015. She made her UFC debut in December 2016, in a Fight of the Night showing against Leslie Smith.
Aldana holds notable wins over TUF winner Macy Chiasson, Invicta champ Yana Santos, UFC contender Ketlen Vieira, and ex-UFC title challenger Bethe Correia, among others.
