Irene Aldana

Irene Aldana Robles is a Mexican mixed martial artist who competes in the women's bantamweight division of the UFC.

Born and raised in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Aldana was pursuing a college degree in graphic design in Guadalajara when she discovered mixed martial arts. She began training at Lobo Gym in 2010, quickly abandoning her studies in favor of full-time fighting, and turned professional in 2012. After building her reputation on the Mexican regional circuit and in Invicta FC, she signed with the UFC in 2016, debuting against Leslie Smith at UFC on Fox 22.

Aldana trains out of Lobo Gym in Guadalajara, the same camp that produced former UFC women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso, and has developed into one of the more dangerous strikers in the women's bantamweight ranks. Her game is built around heavy hands: a powerful right cross and a tight, well-rotated left hook that has produced some of the division's most memorable finishes. She sets her power shots up with active lead-hand work and feints, mixes in occasional body attacks and kicks, and has sharpened her defensive footwork considerably as her career has progressed.

Aldana's signature moments include a first-round knockout of Ketlen Vieira, a submission win over former title challenger Bethe Correia, and a highlight-reel finish of Macy Chiasson via a kick to the body. Those performances helped earn her a shot at the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship against then-champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 289, a milestone that made her one of the few Mexican fighters to headline for UFC gold.

As one of the leading Mexican stars in women's MMA, Aldana has carved out a legacy as a heavy-handed, entertaining striker whose power and toughness have made her a fixture near the top of the bantamweight division.