Irene Aldana is currently 0-2-0 in the UFC, having dropped those two bouts to Katlyn Chookagian and Leslie Smith.
However, the fighter is not happy with the loss to Chookagian at UFC 210 -- it was a bout that she felt that she actually won.
“I analyzed it, and it was a very good fight, but I believe I won that,” Aldana told MMA Fighting. “I know it was a competitive bout, but I thought I won. Many of her strikes were hitting air. When we were in the back warming up before the fight, the referee [Todd Anderson] came up to us and explained the rules to us. When he explained the rules, he said that damage and the effectiveness of the strikes were going to count more than the striking volume. So after he said that, we went by that, and that’s why I didn’t focus on throwing too many strikes. I focused more on actually connecting them. I saw myself fighting more offensive, moving forward more, putting the pressure, and connecting the better shots of the fight. So yeah, it was very disappointing, but things happen. I’m someone that doesn't like to leave it in the hands of the judges. I’m someone that likes to finish fights, and that was my intention in this bout, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to get it done. It’s one more experience in the books, one more lesson learned, and next time, I’ll try my hardest to not leave it in the hands of the judges.”
Aldana has already spoken with UFC President Dana White and others, and they assured her that she’ll be getting a third opportunity inside of the Octagon.
When that opportunity comes for Aldana, expect it to be a Rocky-esque rise for the fighter.
“I’ll never show up to give a mediocre performance or a boring fight. In a way, I’m winning a lot of experience. I think I’ve taken tough challenges, and I’ve managed to do a lot with the little experience I have. I’ve been fighting women that have 20 years of experience, so I think I’m on the right path and I’m taking these experiences as motivation. I’m not sure what’s going to happen, but I know that my career is at stake for my third fight, and I have to do a Rocky-like comeback to show that I belong in the UFC,” says Aldana.
