Irena Aldana (image via UFC/YouTube)

By FCF Staff

The rubber match between Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena will not go down at UFC 289 as planned, as the latter has withdrawn from the upcoming card.

Pena was scheduled to face the bantamweight champion at the June 10th event. But, recently UFC President Dana White confirmed via Twitter that Pena has broken her rib and will no longer compete.

As a result, Irene Aldana has been booked to fight Nunes in the UFC 289 headliner.

Aldana (14-6) is coming off a stoppage win over Macy Chiasson in September, and has gone 4-1 in her last 5 contests.

Nunes (22-5), meanwhile, recorded a decision win over Pena in her last outing, which took place last July. In doing so, she avenged her 2021 submission loss to Pena, which was Nunes’ first defeat since 2014.

UFC 289 will be hosted by Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.