Irene Aldana has called time on her MMA career, notifying the UFC of her decision to retire and prompting her official removal from the promotion’s roster on Friday.
A person with knowledge of her decision confirmed Aldana’s retirement to MMA Junkie, closing the book on a UFC run that began with her debut in December 2016 after a stint in Invicta.
Aldana, 38, exits the sport with an 8-6 record in the UFC and a 15-8 mark overall in MMA. She challenged Amanda Nunes for the women’s bantamweight title in June 2023, dropping a unanimous decision, and had not competed since a loss to Norma Dumont in September 2024.
Over 14 UFC appearances, Aldana earned five performance bonuses, including Fight of the Night honors for her bout with Karol Rosa at UFC 296. Her notable wins in the promotion include victories over Ketlen Vieira, Bethe Correia, Yana Santos, and Karol Rosa, and she is described as one of Mexico's most prominent female mixed martial artists.
