One of Mexico’s most notable fighting daughters hails from the city of Guadalajara and fights out of Lobo Gym. While the gym homes three of the sport’s biggest stars in the making out of the country, the most experienced displays her skills at 135-pounds.
Beginning her career in 2012 and fighting at home in Mexico until just her third pro fight in the following year, Irene Aldana wouldn’t get to fight at home again until 2019. But this time, the stage was significantly larger than it was back in the day.
Aldana is now a staple of the UFC’s bantamweight division as she’s currently ranked comfortably inside the top 10 of the weight class sitting at the No. 9 spot.
Having had such a big occasion ahead of her, it wouldn’t be surprising to find oneself with a case of cold feet in anticipation. In Aldana’s case, everything was built to perfection.
“Not at all, I think totally the opposite,” Aldana told The Scrap in regards to feeling pressure fighting back at home. “I enjoyed a lot of my fight week and my training camp there. When I went out to the fight, I saw all the people cheering at me and screaming my name and I was so excited, so relaxed. I took it for a positive way and it motivated me for a better fight.”
After having her three-fight winning streak snapped in her fight prior to her last in a close fight with Raquel Pennington, Aldana would rebound impressively. Finding her flow early and often, she would pick apart her opponent, UFC newcomer Vanessa Melo, for a shutout win on home turf.
Continued: Once upon a time in Mexico: Aldana reflects on her MMA homecoming
