Invicta FC bantamweight prospect Irene Aldana is headed for the UFC, and her debut will reportedly be against Leslie Smith.
Last Saturday, strawweight prospect Alexa Grasso made her successful UFC debut, defeating Heather Jo Clark by unanimous decision. In just one month, we’ll be seeing Grasso’s teammate make her first appearance inside the Octagon. MMAjunkie reports that Invicta FC bantamweight contender Irene Aldana (7-2) is slated to fight Leslie Smith (8-7-1) at UFC on FOX 22 on Saturday, December 17th in Sacramento, California.
Aldana racked up a 4-1 record under the Invicta FC banner, with her only loss coming in a title fight vs. Tonya Evinger, who is the promotion’s current champion. All of Aldana’s victories have come by stoppage, including recent 1st round knockouts of Faith Van Duin and Jessamyn Duke. One of her flashier finishes came on the regional scene, with this spinning wheel kick knockout over Mayra Arce.
Smith’s first fight in 2016 saw her beat Rin Nakai by unanimous decision. “The Peacemaker” then fought Cris Cyborg at UFC 198 in a 140 lbs catchweight fight, suffering a quick 1st round TKO loss to the reigning Invicta FC featherweight champion. Smith recently had a benign tumor from her stomach removed, with assistance from the UFC in helping her get her tumor evaluated.
UFC on FOX 22 is headlined by a five-round strawweight bout between Paige VanZant and Michelle Waterson. The co-main event is Urijah Faber vs. Brad Pickett, in what will be the final fight of Faber’s career.
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