UFC on ESPN 16 Main Event
The second card after the return of the UFC to Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE, is significantly inferior to the UFC 253 pay-per-view event. However, UFC on ESPN 16, scheduled for this weekend, has a couple of potentially interesting fights involving former promotion champions.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Holm will headline the card against tough Mexican Aldana.
After her sensational knockout victory over Ronda Rousey and winning the UFC title, the previously undefeated Holm began to lose fight after fight. From 2016 to 2019, she lost 5 out of 7 fights. In July 2019, Amanda Nunes prevented Holm from regaining the belt by knocking her out in the first round. And in January at UFC 246, The Preacher’s Daughter returned with a dismal points win over Raquel Pennington.
Aldana lost her first two fights in the UFC, with an overall MMA record of 7-4. But since 2018, she has steadily progressed, winning 5 of her last 6 fights. The only defeat in this period, she suffered from Pennington by a split decision in an equal duel. The Mexican held her last fight in December 2019, knocking out Ketlen Vieira in a round.
Prediction for the fight
Aldana, like Holm, professes to fight in a stand-up position, relying on boxing skills. However, Holm is a former world boxing champion and will have a significant advantage in the striking component.
The Mexican feels good on the ground and it looks like dragging her into the Holm on the ground is her only chance to win. But in recent years, Holm’s defense against leg passes has improved markedly, and Holly’s constant movement makes her a difficult takedown target.
We expect the more experienced Holm to outbox Aldana, who has never fought five rounds before.
Holm win on points
Main card
Holly Holm – Irene Aldana
Yorgan de Castro – Carlos Felipe
Germain de Randamie – Julianne Peña
Dequan Townsend – Dusko Todorovic
preliminary card
Kyler Phillips – Cameron Els
Carlos Condit – Court McGee
Charles Jourdain – Josh Coulibao
Jordan Williams – Nassurdin Imavov
Loma Lookbunmee Jin Yu Frey
Casey Kenny – Haley Alateng
Luigi Vendramini – Yessin Ayari
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