Amanda Nunes beat up an overmatched Irene Aldana in the main event of UFC 289, then decided to call it a career.
Never at any point during the fight was Nunes troubled by Aldana. She landed and scored takedowns at will. The final tally saw Nunes outland Aldana in strikes with a tally of 142-41, and scored six takedowns en route to a dominant decision win.
The victory on the scorecards was nothing if not inevitable. It was in the ring where Nunes laid down her bantamweight and featherweight titles, prompting her to announce her retirement from the UFC.
With little else to accomplish in the octagon, and her credentials as the greatest women’s MMA competitor sealed, it was the right time for her to step away from the sport.
Nunes enjoys the rare win before retirement, ending her career at 23-5, and as a reigning and defending two-division champion.
Aldana, who stepped in for an injured Julianna Pena, dropped to 14-7 in defeat.
Charles Oliveira destroys Beneil Dariush in UFC co-main
Former lightweight champion Oliveira made short work of Dariush in the co-main event.
The heavily anticipated fight between the ex-champ and the division’s dark horse failed to live up to its lofty expectations. Oliveira pounced on a visibly drained Dariush and beat him up.
There wasn’t much by the way of offense coming from Dariush. Once Oliveira wobbled him with a beauty of a head kick toward the end of the first round, it didn’t take much to knock Dariush down and pound him out until the stoppage came.
With the win, Oliveira puts himself in a prime position for a rematch with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Makhachev soundly submitted Oliveira at UFC 280, but the strength of Oliveira’s showing is likely to guarantee a rematch with the champ.
UFC 289 full card results
Amanda Nunes def. Irene Aldana via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-43)
Charles Oliveira def. Beneil Dariush via TKO – Round 1, 4:10
Mike Malott def. Adam Fugitt via submission – Round 2, 1:06
Dan Ige def. Nate Landwehr via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Marc-Andre Barriault def. Eryk Anders via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Chris Curtis vs. Nassourdine Imavov ends in no contest – Round 2, 3:04
Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Miranda Maverick via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Aiemman Zahabi def. Aori Qileng via TKO – Round 1, 1:04
Kyle Nelson def. Blake Bilder via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Stephen Erceg def. David Dvorak via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Diana Belbita def. Maria Oliveira via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
